SHAABAN 28, 1441 AH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

20 Pages Max 31º Min 22º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18112 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Muslims face a Ramadan like never before amid pandemic

Mideast braces for bleak fasting month as virus threat lingers

CAIRO/JAKARTA/RIYADH: Days before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, the Islamic world is 2 deaths, 80 new grappling with an untimely paradox of the new coronavirus pandemic: Enforced separation at a time when cases; Hashem socializing is almost sacred. The holiest month in the Islamic calendar is one of wants expats out family and togetherness - community, reflection, charity and prayer. But with By B Izzak shuttered mosques, coronavirus cur- fews and bans on mass prayers from Senegal to Southeast Asia, some 1.8 bil- KUWAIT: The health ministry yesterday lion Muslims are facing a Ramadan like reported 80 new coronavirus (COVID-19) never before. infections in the last 24 hours, bringing total Across the Muslim world the pan- infections to 1,995, while two deaths were demic has generated new levels of anx- reported, bringing the total fatalities to nine. iety ahead of the holy fasting month, During its daily briefing, Health Ministry which begins on Friday. In Algiers, Spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said 39 Yamine Hermache, 67, usually receives patients are in intensive care, 26 of them are in relatives and neighbors at her home for critical condition. tea and cold drinks during the month Those currently receiving treatment at hos- that Muslims fast from dusk till dawn. pitals reached 1,619 patients, Sanad said. The But this year she fears it will be differ- new death cases are of a 49-year-old ent. “We may not visit them, and they Bangladeshi male and a 55-year-old Indian CAIRO: Egyptians look at traditional lanterns known in Arabic as “fawanees” sold for the holy month of Ramadan in the will not come,” she said, weeping. “The male - both were receiving treatment in inten- Sayeda Zainab neighborhood on Sunday. — AFP coronavirus has made everyone afraid, sive care units. Earlier yesterday, Health even of distinguished guests.” Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah announced out taraweeh,” he said, referring to with neighboring Arab countries, is From Africa to Asia, the coronavirus In a country where mosques have the recovery of 62 patients, bringing the total to additional prayers performed at expected to announce a fatwa outlining has cast a shadow of gloom and uncer- been closed, her husband Mohamed 367 recoveries. mosques after iftar, the evening meal in what Ramadan rituals will be permitted, tainty. Millions are locked down across Djemoudi, 73, worries about something Continued on Page 16 which Muslims break their fast. In but for millions of Muslims, it already the Middle East - from Saudi Arabia else. “I cannot imagine Ramadan with- Jordan the government, in coordination feels so different. Continued on Page 16 2 Local Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Home quarantine procedures approved by health minister

local spotlight Symptomatic citizens transferred to institutional quarantine Wellbeing amidst the pandemic

By Sadie Hussain

ith more than 20 percent of the world’s population on lockdown, it goes without Wsaying that the outbreak of COVID-19 or the “Pandemic” has impacted us all in different ways and on varying scales. Feelings of fear, anxiety and dejection as a result of the constant alerts and cover- age surrounding the spread are understandable. This is an unprecedented scenario; stress and the feelings associated with it are by no means a reflection of your adequacy. In fact, feeling under pressure may be a KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti national shows the tracking bracelet provided by authorities as likely experience for you and many of your loved she leaves the Kuwait International Airport upon her return as part of a repatriation Kuwaiti nationals leave the Kuwait International Airport upon their return as part ones. Managing your psychosocial wellbeing during plan on Sunday, and ahead of being taken to mandatory home quarantine. of a repatriation plan Sunday.— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat this time is just as important as managing your phys- ical health. KUWAIT: Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah Many, if not all of us, have heard the important rule issued a ministerial decision Sunday to adopt the nec- News in brief on flight safety “put on your own oxygen mask before essary mechanism to implement “home quarantine pro- helping others.” This is just an example to remind us cedures”, in a manner that ensures the preservation of of the importance of self-care. If you cannot take Special flights to Europe health and safety to all. The decision is within the frame- care of yourself, you cannot take care of others in- work of efforts and measures taken by the ministry to cluding your loved ones. By incorporating certain ac- KUWAIT: Kuwait continues to offer limited out- confront the spread of coronavirus, known as COVID- tivities into our daily lives, we offer our body and 19. The mechanism, according to the decision paper, in- bound flights to expatriates wishing to go home. mind the time to rest, reset, and rejuvenate; so to cludes procedures to be followed by the person in home Kuwait Airways announced it will operate special avoid the symptoms of stress and anxiety. The fol- quarantine. flights to London on April 20-21, 2020 - exclu- lowing may be practiced to support and enhance One of the main aspects of the decision is to ensure sively for UK nationals/residents and EU citizens wellbeing, particularly during this time. choosing a separate room from the rest of the family, - and special flights to Geneva on April 21, 2020 - preferably a separate floor, with a separate bathroom, exclusively for EU citizens. The one way flight Responsible contribution and if a separate bathroom is not available, a shared costs around KD 252,75. As for Qatar Airways, Be mindful not to act in ways that contribute to the bathroom must be cleaned after each use. Among the 42 were transferred to compulsory institutional quaran- two daily flights from Kuwait to selected destina- widespread panic. This hinders all efforts in managing procedures also is making sure to open windows, venti- tine on suspicion of coronavirus symptoms, while 1,187 tions via Doha, will leave Kuwait till May 30, 2020. the outbreak. One groundless act could lead to sensa- lating the room continuously, not mixing with the rest of were converted to home quarantine. Health Ministry’s tionalizing the issues that are being faced worldwide. the family at home, refraining from receiving visitors and Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs and Gen- Rather, ensure you are following directives issued not leaving the quarantine area. In the event of any med- eral Supervisor of Medical Examination Centers at by the Kuwaiti government and medical officials. Your ical emergency, those in quarantine can call the desig- Kuwait International Airport Dr Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi contribution starts in observing and maintaining good nated number from by ministry, which is (151). affirmed that four cases were transferred to complete Hunger strike hygiene habits and adhering to the curfew. Focus on Usage of phone is essential when you need to com- their treatment in the hospitals for other health reasons. other positive contributions that you can make, such municate with anyone at home, including responding to Mutairi stated that the total number of citizens who were KUWAIT: Responding to a video posted on Twit- as limiting your exposure to others. Consider your emails for daily follow-up regarding health symptoms on the first 11 evacuation flights amounted to 1,233. ter showing some of the Egyptians accommodated self-isolation as an act of love. and temperature and not to share your personal belong- Kuwait Airways on Sunday operated a total 12 flights in Kabd pending evacuation, who had been al- ings with anyone, and ensure that it is clean and steril- to bring overseas nationals back to Kuwait due to the Media exposure legedly on hunger strike for two days in an attempt ized. The procedures emphasized the continuous outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) world- In a digital age, with instant access to information to force the Egyptian embassy to act and accel- sterilization of surfaces and door handles, not sharing wide. The incoming flights, which are part of a three-day in the palm of our hands, it is difficult to escape the erate returning them to Egypt, Kuwait Times con- towels with other people at home. The procedures, repatriation plan, include three from Riyadh, three from threat of the Pandemic residing in your thoughts. tacted an official at the embassy to inquire about among other things, also focused on eating separately Manama, two from each Abu Dhabi and Dubai and one Whilst it is great to stay informed, manage your expo- the incident. The Egyptian embassy official said: and not with the family members. The minister’s decision from each Muscat and Doha. The national carrier stands sure to media coverage in order to avoid obsessing and “Only a few of the Egyptians went on hunger also stressed ensuring that adequate medical supplies properly prepared for the “grand repatriation” process reaching pointless speculation as this can unwittingly strike for just an hour. It is over now and we are are available at home in the event of suffering from a since it has harnessed all its energies to bring in Kuwaiti increase feelings of fear and anxiety. Living in a con- fully confident in the measures taken by our broth- chronic illness. nationals abroad, the airline’s Board Chairman Yousef stant state of stress where you cannot stop thinking of ers in the Kuwaiti ministry of interior.” The decision also highlighted procedures that must Al-Jassem said in a statement. “Kuwait Airways is keen the Pandemic means you are putting your body into be followed by family members and other residents with on playing its due part in this regard, given that it is the permanent ‘fight or flight’ mode, which studies have the person in the home quarantine. The minister noted main national carrier of the State,” he said. The airline proven to be damaging to both physical and psycho- that quarantined individuals must use the smartphone has some 40 flights to run in the first three days of the logical health and wellbeing. Always be mindful of the application ‘Shlonik’ to follow their status or situation at repatriation period. source of the information you seek and ensure you ac- Shops reopening home, and to be able to communicate with them and The Cabinet had adopted a phased process to bring cess and share only reputable information. check on their health and make sure they adhere to home back Kuwaiti citizens abroad. The plan envisages five Studies have also found that you are more suscep- KUWAIT: Minister of Municipality Affairs Waleed quarantine procedures. The decision also assigned teams phases: the first started today and lasts until Tuesday, tible to the effects of bad news within the first 30 min- Al-Jassim tweeted that he gave instructions to by the Ministry of Health that will make unannounced covering Kuwaitis who completed medical treatment utes of waking up. Try to take your time to enjoy your Kuwait Municipality’s executive apparatus to pre- visits to quarantine individuals, and a report will be pre- abroad along with their companions, also tourists or morning and set a positive tone for the day before you pare a mechanism to enable car repair shops at pared from doctors or health inspectors on each case. those who were on official assignments. The second sit down to catch up on the news. co-operative societies to reopen, while complying stage (April 23) covers patients who need medical beds — The above advice should not be considered as a with health ministry instructions, in order to allow Institutional quarantine and life support equipment. The third one (April 25-May comprehensive report or medical advice concerning people to repair vehicles under the current cir- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said Sunday that 1) targets students, the fourth (May 3-4) for diplomats issues that may affect physical and mental wellbeing. cumstances. among the citizens who recently arrived in the country, and the fifth (May 6-7) for other segments. —KUNA

Coronavirus in Kuwait: What we know so far KUWAIT: Kuwait has so far recorded 1,995 cases in- during which the person is monitored, and prescribed all nationalities: Female violators are received at Roufayda - Psychiatric Hospital: 97350113 fected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition health procedures are applied, the health ministry said. Al-Aslameya School - Block 4 - Street 200, while male - Physiotherapy Hospital: 99824037 to nine deaths. With the exception of 39 cases in intensive Meanwhile, the Cabinet announced on April 9 the opera- violators are received at Naeem bin Masod School - - Maternity Hospital: 98559531 care, all infected cases are in stable condition and are re- tion of all airline flights for expats who are wishing to re- Block 4 - Street 250. - As’ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center: 98514508 covering in quarantined locations designated by the gov- turn back to their countries. Authorities also announced a - Zain Hospital: 97552031 ernment for this purpose, while hundreds have been public holiday in the country from March 12 to April 23, Hotlines - NBK Hospital: 96931761 discharged from quarantine after exhibiting no symptoms with work resuming on April 26, while entities providing - The Ministry of Health has set the following hotlines - Al-Rashed Allergy Hospital: 94162470 during their 14-day quarantine period, the Ministry of vital services will remain open. Meanwhile, the Ministry to receive inquiries about the coronavirus 24/7: - Infectious Diseases Hospital: 96989164 Health confirmed. Meanwhile, 367 people have recovered of Education has suspended classes for March at all public 24970967 - 96049698 - 99048619. - Palliative Care Hospital: 94024786 completely after previously being infected with the virus, and private schools (for both students and teaching staffs); - The Education Ministry set the following hotlines to - Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center: 90952469 the ministry said. There are 1,619 people receiving treat- first from March 1 to March 12, and later extended it until receive inquiries on school closures related to the anti- - KFH Addiction Treatment Center: 94169363 ment and 1,367 quarantined as of yesterday. Kuwait is tak- March 29, before eventually suspending schools until Au- coronavirus measures: Meanwhile, all licensed pharmacies in Kuwait deliver- ing measures to test Kuwaitis coming from infected areas gust for grade 12 and October for other stages. - 24970967 (24/7 hotline) ing medicine are allowed to continue their services 24 for potential infection, as it has already tested thousands Kuwait suspended issuing entry permits and visas un- - 51575591 (Capital Educational Zone) hours a day. of people. Meanwhile, Kuwait requires all expatriates who less those issued through diplomatic missions. State de- - 51576117 (Hawally Educational Zone) The Ministry of Health is also asking doctors and nurses arrived from travel on March 1 and beyond to visit Kuwait partments have been on high alert to take precautions - 51576576 (Farwaniya Educational Zone) affiliated with the private medical sector to volunteer in order International Fairground where the Ministry of Health has against the potential spread of the virus. The Ministry of - 51577055 (Jahra Educational Zone) to contribute to the fight against the virus. Volunteering is set up a center to test people for possible infection. Commerce and Industry has taken measures to make sure - 51577655 (Ahmadi Educational Zone) available through the link: http://volunteering.q8- that facial masks, hand sanitizers and other goods remain - 51577951 (Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational Zone) ehealth.com. The ministry had closed all private clinics and Curfew accessible to the public. - 51578171 (Religious Studies Department) medical centers effective March 22, 2020 until further notice. Kuwait enforced a country-wide curfew from 5:00 pm - 51588599 (Private Education Department) to 6:00 am until further notice. The government also Amnesty - 51592515 (Services Department) Mental health assistance locked down Mahboula and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh in a bid The Interior Ministry issued an amnesty allowing res- - 51594544 (Public Relations Department) The Kuwait Psychological Association (KPA) is pro- to contain the spread of the virus and enable health work- idency violators to leave the country between April 1 and viding consultation through the phone for people suffer- ers to test inhabitants. Earlier, the government decided to April 30 without paying any fines or airfare with a chance Medicine delivery ing from the psychological impacts of coronavirus. close all shopping malls, beauty salons and barber shops to return to Kuwait later. The amnesty was issued in view Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a new Different doctors are working on the hotline in different as part of its measures to prevent the spread of the coro- of the circumstances the country is currently going medicine delivery service for people in Kuwait, which they timings as follows: navirus. The government also allowed supermarkets, through and as part of the precautionary measures taken can use to order medications to be delivered during cur- - Dr Rashed Al-Sahl: on Monday and Wednesday 10:00 restaurants and shops to host a maximum of five people to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Individuals de- few hours. The medications will be delivered within 72 am - 1:00 pm. Call 9797-6168. at a time and in case there are lines, the distance must be siring to procure valid residencies in Kuwait and are will- hours after the order is submitted. To place an order, pa- - Dr Fahad Al-Tasha: daily from 8:00 pm - 12:00 am. Call at least one meter between people. The Ministry of Com- ing to pay the fines without being subjected to tients should send a WhatsApp to the numbers for the 9904-8258. merce launched a website (www.moci.shop) to enable investigations will be allowed to pay the fines and legalize hospitals and medical centers as listed below. The patient - Dr Othman Al-Asfour: daily 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Call people to book appointments to shop at co-operative so- their status if they meet the required conditions. should include their name, Civil ID number, hospital or 9938-5350. cieties in their areas. The Public Authority for Industry also Special centers in Farwaniya were allocated to accom- clinic file number, mobile phone number and the medicine - Dr Mohammed Al-Khaldi (head of this team): daily 9:00 announced that companies can apply to evacuate their modate violators who finalize their papers pending de- needed to the following numbers: am - 12:00 pm. Call 9903-6470. workers from Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mahboula. To do so, parture. Male violators are received at Al-Muthanna - Amiri Hospital: 50880699 - Dr Ahmad Al-Khaldi: daily 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Call they must fill a ‘workers evacuation form’ available on primary school for boys, Farwaniya, block 1, street 122, - Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital: 50880755 9910-7965. www.pai.gov.kw, and send the form via email to: while female violators are received at Farwaniya primary - Farwaniya Hospital: 50880852 - Dr Muneera Al-Qattan: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 [email protected]. school for girls in Farwaniya, block 1, street 76. Violators - Adan Hospital: 50880908 am - 1:00 pm. Call 9953-3108. are received from 8 am till 2 pm according to the following - Jahra Hospital: 50881066 - Dr Zainab Al-Saffar: Sunday and Thursday 7:00 pm - Precautions dates and nationalities: Philippines (April 1-5, 2020), - Sabah Hospital: 97632660 9:00 pm. Call 9954-9908. Kuwait halted all commercial flights until further notice, Egypt (April 6-10), Bangladesh (April 11-15), India (April - Jaber Hospital: 96992079 - Dr Sameera Al-Kandari: Tuesday 9:00 pm - 12:00 am. and has sent special flights to repatriate Kuwaitis back 16-20), Sri Lanka (April 21-25), other nationalities (April - Ibn Sina Hospital: 99613948 Call 6770-9434. home from countries affected with the virus’ spread. All 26-30, 2020). - Chest Hospital: 99258749 - Dr Kawthar Al-Yaqout: Monday and Wednesday 6:00 arrivals to Kuwait from all countries are to be placed The Interior Ministry later opened two new locations - Razi Hospital: 97633487 pm - 9:00 pm. Call 5521-0088. under compulsory institutional quarantine for 14 days, in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh to receive residency violators from - Kuwait Cancer Control Center: 96735242 - For information and other concerns, call 9401-4283. 3 Local Tuesday, April 21, 2020 28 days of solitude: A Kuwaiti returnee’s journey back home

KUWAIT: A flight attendant in a protective suite walks through aisle inside the plane. Interior Ministry personnel lined up outside the Passengers sit inside a tent to fill health ministry A copy of the health ministry form to be filled by all —Photos by Fajer Ahmed plane. forms upon arrival. passengers upon arrival.

By Fajer Ahmed 3) Flight details - We were not allowed any carry- formation, like any symptoms we had, and where we • So many people who were stuck in Kuwait with- on luggage but were allowed two bags of 32 kilos would be quarantined. They then put on us a bracelet out jobs and could not afford to go home because of am grateful that I was one of the first people to each (such a relief cause I was worried we would be with a chip that monitors our location. visa violations are getting the chance to go home Ireturn to Kuwait, as part of the biggest eviction getting 20 kg). 8) Getting tested - The test was painful for me, al- now, while violators are being prosecuted. plan for Kuwaiti citizens. My initial trip to Abu 4) Boarding - I went to Abu Dhabi international though many people had a different experience. It • Our environment in Kuwait is getting cleaner. Dhabi was planned for 10 days, but because of airport, but no one was at the airport except the was a swab that they stuck all the way up the nose. I The weather is very cool for April. COVID-19, I was only able to return this week, mak- Kuwaitis on my flight. We checked in and boarded as get my results in two days. • Taking the time to stay at home and reflect on ing the trip a total of 57 days. I am now in 28 days of you would on a usual flight, which was a little strange, I am very grateful to the Kuwaiti government and our lives and where we are going is the break we all solitude in my own apartment. I am not allowed to because all stores/gates at the airport were closed. the frontliners that made sure that we got home and wanted. leave or have guests, or interact with my family that 5) Flying - Every seat had a bag with gloves, stayed safe. I now have to legally stay in solitude for • Most of us are spending more time with family. lives in the other areas of the house. I am very grateful masks, sanitizer, a mobile chip and a small meal. The 28 days, as no one else was traveling with me. Being I think we should choose to celebrate the good for this time of reflection. flight was full, with the only empty seat next to me. It alone though does not mean being lonely. Being alone things that come out of COVID-19. The process to fly back was actually very organ- was a bumpy flight, but everyone was so happy to fly is a time to reflect. Also one other note: So many people made sure I ized and simple: back. I also think that the best thing we can do in a time came to Kuwait safe, including expats, so hearing that 1) Request to come back - I registered on a web- 6) Arrival - We were escorted out of the plane one of crisis is ask ourselves what we can learn from this. expats are the ones bringing or passing on the virus site filling out important details, like my medical his- by one. We then sat in a tent as if we were in a class- Here is what I learned from COVID-19 is not a nice way to say or think. Frontliners are both tory. http://withyou.e.gov.kw/ room taking an exam. We were told to check our • That calling this a crisis and letting fear take over Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti, and that is how our com- 2) Collecting information - I got instructions to phones and make sure the Shlonik app was working. does not really help anyone. munity has always been. Flight attendants, nurses, download an app called Shlonik, so that the ministry 7) Activating our bracelets - We were then es- • So much good is happening right now, because doctors, ground staff and security guards were all of health can monitor my location. corted to another area, where they registered our in- of COVID-19. both Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis at the same time.

velopments concerning the education process celebrate their graduation,” Harbi underscored. In my view Minister, KU at Kuwait University in view of the global health In addition, Harbi hailed the union’s contribu- crisis the world is going through as a result of tions in voluntary work and expressed his pride the spread of COVID-19. Harbi said he dis- and faith in Kuwait University students. Coronavirus and union mull cussed various issues with the union members, Kuwait University’s branch of NUKS noting that he sensed the union members’ great stressed that the meeting included discussing e-learning sense of responsibility towards fellow students the need to resume schooling and not to im- martial law and their academic future. pede or suspend it, while prioritizing students’ Harbi also reconfirmed the ministry’s keen- health and safety, in addition to setting and ap- By A Saleh By Dr Fatma Khaled Almohsen ness on the future of students, adding that the proving online education soon, taking into con- ministry is currently reviewing various options sideration students’ best interests and the best KUWAIT: Minister of Education and Minister to ensure students’ best interests are protected. assessment system to be used with this form of ith the fact that the number of coron- of Higher Education Saud Al-Harbi recently met “We are undoubtedly keen on students’ health, education. The union also reaffirmed its full Wavirus-infected cases in Kuwait con- members of the National Union of Kuwaiti Stu- safety and academic future. We also reassure support to the procedures taken by the Cabi- tinues to rise despite the curfew dents - Kuwait University branch (NUKS - KU) them that we are working 24/7 for their best in- net since the beginning of the crisis to maintain imposed and the prediction for this number to to discuss some issues including the latest de- terests and we will get through this crisis and citizens’ health and safety. sharply grow with the expected arrival of evacu- ated citizens, voices have recently wondered if the government would declare martial law. These talks pushed me to write this article and demonstrate legal dimensions of the aforementioned law ac- cording to the Kuwaiti constitution with the hope the government will not feel compelled to use this serious authority. Article no. 69 of the Kuwaiti constitution states His Highness the Amir shall proclaim martial law in case of a necessity which should be determined by a statutory law that is to be issued. Accord- ingly, in 1967, statute law no. 22/1967 was issued regulating the declaration of martial law. Its first article defines what the constitution calls a ‘case of necessity’ - martial law could be declared whenever general security is exposed to danger. Here, I shall pause and ask those promoting placing the state under martial rule, whether the coronavirus pandemic in Kuwait now could be measured as threatening general security. For me, as I recall the legal consequences of this law, I wish the answer to the question would be ‘No’. Article 3 of law no. 22/1967 lists expanded ex- traordinary authorities that can be practiced by the governor appointed by His Highness the Amir during martial rule. Closely examining those au- thorities can easily lead to the conclusion that they hinder the practice of the most important free- doms regulated by the constitution. This law gives the martial governor the right to conduct full inspections of people and places at any time, restricting people’s travel to specific areas. It also gives the governor the right to ban any public gathering and reinforce it even by force. The governor can also deport non-Kuwaitis immediately and bring different means of trans- port and buildings that are privately owned into state possession. What might be the most glaring among all these procedures (that are given just as an exam- ple) is that civilian courts would stop and be re- placed by military courts. This all justifies the constitution’s approach in demanding the referral to the parliament within 15 days following the is- suance of the martial law for a decision on its con- tinuity. Moreover, in case parliament is dissolved, it shall be referred to the new Assembly in its first sitting. In conclusion, although Kuwait twice de- clared martial law, I hope that the coronavirus pandemic will not spread to the extent that the government will repeat the experience for the third time in its history. 4 Established 1961 Local Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Manila distributes cash assistance to jobless Filipinos, delivers food $200 to Filipinos who are jobless or not being paid by employers

By Ben Garcia Food relief drive Meanwhile, parallel to the cash assistance pro- KUWAIT: The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait gram of the Philippine government, the embassy also announced Manila’s cash assistance program to help launched a food relief drive for Filipinos in Kuwait. Filipinos in dire need during the lockdown caused by “The grocery packages comprise of rice, noodles COVID-19. The embassy will hand over cash amount- and canned food. Sometimes we include milk, oil and ing to $200 to Filipinos who were terminated or aban- diapers for babies. These are all basic needs of doned by their employers, are currently jobless or are Filipinos,” said Embassy Welfare Officer Llewelyn not being paid by employers. Since the start of the Perez, who said the food drive has been going on for partial lockdown in Kuwait on March 1, a number of two weeks now. Filipinos have been appealing for help. When asked if the food drive is also funded by the “This is not unique to Kuwait - this problem is Philippine government, he said: “Most of the money global. We have millions of Filipinos around the world is from the Overseas Workers Welfare calling for embassy assistance. Of course we cannot Administration, but also donated by companies and turn our back to this request - that is why our Labor individuals. This relief program is separate from the Secretary Silvestre Bello, with the authorization of our Department of Labor and Employment’s efforts. We President Rodrigo Duterte, came up with the program have a separate fund for this program to help and to help ease the burden of our people through cash give food to Filipinos who are in need. Even if avail assistance while waiting for normalcy. We have funds the cash assistance, you can also avail the food KUWAIT: Workers prepare grocery packages as part of a food relief drive launched by the Philippines being disbursed at every packs. So far we have dis- embassy for Filipinos in Kuwait. —Photos by Ben Garcia post to ease the burden of tributed 7,000 grocery Filipinos. So in this time of baskets, and we will be crisis, we want to show that doing this until the condi- the roads are almost empty. Kuwait Times went on our overseas labor office tion normalizes,” Perez Road projects a tour of some roads under construction on cares,” Philippine Assistant 7,000 grocery said. Saturday night. At the Seventh Ring Road, work- Labor Attache to Kuwait baskets The embassy has tapped ers were applying a layer of asphalt. Jarrah Al- Cathy Duladul told Kuwait the assistance of all Filipino ongoing during Harbi, director of engineers developing the Times on Sunday. organizations in Kuwait to distributed Seventh Ring Road project, said the team was “From the time we deliver the food relief pack- launched the program in ages to Filipinos in Kuwait. curfew hours working on laying 1,300 tons of asphalt over an the second week of April, “We are doing it per gover- area of three kilometers, comprising of three we’ve received 10,122 norate - house to house or By Nawara Fattahova lanes. “We work from 2:00 pm till 8:00 pm daily applications. We need building by building,” she on this project that includes construction works proof that you’ve lost your job and have no work and noted. “We know the necessity of the project because KUWAIT: The ministry of public works is contin- and services, in addition to asphalt works. We no pay. In the absence of such documents, they can we have many Filipinos in Kuwait who have no work uing to execute road projects, especially during work different timings including the day and submit a personal undertaking bearing the name of the and no pay during this pandemic. All they need to do the partial curfew hours, to finish more work as night,” he told Kuwait Times. applicant, name of the company and the date from is contact our coordinators and request for assistance which they haven’t received their salaries. We ask them on our website and Facebook accounts of volunteers to sign the application form and send the documents in each area in Kuwait. Just inform us that you need back to us. We also need copies of their passport or the grocery packages and we will deliver it to you at any Philippine government identification card and send your doorsteps through our volunteers,” she said. it by email,” Duladul said. The embassy thanked some NGOs for pioneering According to Duladul, approved applicants will be the food drive and showing their support to fellow notified through email and cash can be collected from Filipinos during the pandemic, like Pinoy Arabia ME, various money remittance centers in Kuwait. “We have Sandigan, IWOK, AKO-OFW, ASFOK and others from accredited at least four money remittance companies the Alliance of Filipino Organizations in Kuwait. to hand the cash assistance, which will be mentioned in “They’ve been very organized and we laud them for the email,” she said. She called upon Filipinos to follow their efforts. We can do it alone, but we involved the guidelines being implemented in Kuwait, especially Filipino organizations for easy mobilization and quick with regards to COVID-19, and abide by the rules and delivery of goods to the most needy within the com- KUWAIT: A group photo of the team members during road works at the Seventh Ring Road. regulations of the country. munity,” Perez concluded. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Curfew shopping In my view allowed in 36 co-ops Will be missed KUWAIT: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry added more areas to the website that enables citizens and residents to book appointments to shop at co- operative societies in their respective areas of resi- By Abdellatif Sharaa dence. Now people can book the date and time to shop at co-ops during curfew hours. There is a total of 36 areas available: Al-Faiha, Hadiya, Ishbiliya, Rawda, Al-Zahra, Al-Naeem, Mishref, Hateen, Kaifan, Bayan (block 2), Salmiya, Abu Fatira, Ahmadi, [email protected] Fahaheel, Riqa (block 4), Dhaher, Fahad Al-Ahmad, Al-Naseem, Mansouriya, Sharq, Daeya, Shaab, Adailiya, Qurtuba, Abdullah Al-Salem, Jabriya (block 2), Nuzha, Ghernada, Shuhada, Salwa, Rabia, Jaber he holy month of Ramadan is almost here, Al-Ali, Al-Ardiya, A-Khalida, Fintas, and Farwaniya. and it is a long-awaited guest that is held To register, log on to www.moci.shop and Tdear by many Muslims, who receive it with follow the following instructions: joy and special traditions, though they vary from 1-Select the preferred language. one Muslim country to another. Kuwait has cus- 2- Enter your civil ID number. toms that go back many decades, as people here 3- Enter your civil ID serial number. prepare for it weeks before its arrival. You can 4- Enter your name. see shoppers going around stores to buy fancy kitchenware to all that is necessary to cook. 5- Enter your district. Ramadan calls upon Muslims to refrain from 6- Enter your cell phone number. eating, drinking and sexual relations, besides oth- 7- Enter your e-mail address. er things from dawn to dusk. People used to 8- Choose the market. gather in Kuwait City just before sunset, where Customers must note that the allowed shopping the iftar cannon is located, then break their fast time will be only for 30 minutes. Two barcodes will after it was fired by eating dates and drinking be sent to the shopper’s email. One allows them to laban (yogurt drink). Then once home, they eat a drive during the curfew hours, and the other to con- light meal waiting for the ghabqa, which is a full firm the co-op appointment. meal normally eaten after Isha prayers, during which traditional dishes such as jereesh, hares Ramadan moonsighting and luqaimat are served. As for women, they gather for a potluck and eat together. Kuwait is well-known for its diwaniyas, where Wednesday men gather on different social occasions, and many times they turn into mini parliaments where KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice announced common issues are discussed. Many men have a Sunday that the Ramadan moonsighting committee tradition to play games such as cards and dama will meet tomorrow, Shaaban 29th for the year 1441 (checkers) just to have fun and pass time. One AH, in order to sight the holy month’s crescent of thing Kuwaitis are keen on is to send meals to Ramadan. In a statement, the ministry said that the laborers and the needy who gather in mosques to meeting will be held at the headquarters of the get their iftar meal every day of Ramadan, and I Supreme Judicial Council headed by the head of the wonder how it will be this time, because iftar time Supreme Judicial Council and the head of the will be well after the curfew starts. Cassation and Constitutional Courts, Counselor Another tradition in Kuwait is when the night Yosef Al-Mutawa, and in the presence of the of the 13th of Ramadan arrives, children celebrate Minister of Justice and the Minister of Awqaf and it with girgian, where they carry specially-sewn Islamic Affairs, Counselor Dr Fahad Al-Afasi. The bags in their traditional costumes and go door to Ministry called on citizens, residents and those who door singing special songs to receive candy, gifts manage to watch the Ramadan’s crescent to contact and sometimes money. the authority at the following number (25376934). A tradition that is found in many countries but has a special flavor in Kuwait is the “Abu Tubaila” or musaharati, where a man roams the streets and Group helped to embassy neighborhoods beating his traditional tabla (Arabic drum) to wake people to eat their suhoor KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry released a state- meal before dawn, when they must stop eating ment commented on a video clip that circulated on and drinking. social media showing several expatriates entering There are many other acts done during the Adailiya on foot. It said that policemen went to the holy month, yet the coronavirus decided to put area and took the group to the police station. The them all on hold, though I am sure it will be over men said they were heading to the Indian embassy soon and things will go back to normal, as long as to obtain travel documents to take advantage of the we keep fighting it by staying home and social amnesty and leave without having to pay fines. distance. They ended up in Adailiya instead of Daeya where Ramadan Mubarak to all my friends, and see the embassy is located, the ministry said, adding you soon! that they were escorted to the embassy later. 5 Local Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Bader Al-Kharafi: Zain changes network name to ‘Shlonik’ In line with launch of new MoH app and start of citizen evacuation plan

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service public sectors help in raising awareness in company’s commitment towards its customers provider in Kuwait, announced changing its how dangerous it is not to follow the in- during these exceptional circumstances. network’s name to ‘Shlonik’ in line with the structions of health authorities, as well as The company also launched a social media Ministry of Health and the country’s efforts contribute to invite everyone to abide by campaign entitled “This is Your Time” to send pos- to launch the ‘Shlonik’ app, which coincides precautionary directives and control the itive messages to the public about the importance with the inauguration of the government’s spread of this disease.” of being a responsible citizen in this time of crisis, plan to evacuate citizens stranded abroad. ‘Shlonik’ can be downloaded on devices not listen to rumors nor spread them, take part in ‘Shlonik’ translates to ‘how are you’ in the that support iOS and Android operating sys- volunteer efforts, commit to staying at home, as Kuwaiti dialect. tems, and is available in five different lan- well as abiding by the authorities’ directives. ‘Shlonik’ app was developed by Zain’s guages: Arabic, English, Urdu, Tagalog, and Since the beginning of the crisis, Zain col- team in joint collaboration with the Ministry Bengali. Users can sign up via their phone laborated with the Ministry of Health to offer its of Health (MoH) and the Central Agency for and civil ID numbers. The app features an in- customers free calls to any of MoH’s three hot- Information Technology (CAIT). Zain’s de- teractive COVID-19 assessment agent to lines; 24970967, 96049698, and 99048619 in velopment of the app comes as an initiative help each user know what to do next. order to enable them to inquire about any on the company’s part to support the coun- When home quarantined individuals health or medical information related to coron- try’s efforts in fighting the spread of coro- first arrive home from Kuwait International avirus disease (COVID-19) directly from the navirus disease (COVID-19). Airport, they are required to complete the ministry’s specialized team and ensure taking Zain recently changed its network’s first check-in process via the app to notify the correct information from the official and name to STAY HOME in line with the di- MoH’s team of their arrival and the com- certified sources. rectives of the Council of Ministers to re- mencement of their home quarantine pe- As part of its continuous collaboration with mind its customers to commit to staying at riod. They then enter their home quarantine the various ministries, Zain also provided the home as much as possible and contribute location on the map, record a voice note, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior to ending this pan- and take a picture with FREE bulk SMS messages to send medical demic together. of themselves that and awareness content to the community during Zain Vice clearly shows their this period. In addition, the company sent a num- Chairman and Supporting face. The app will ber of awareness messages in collaboration with Group CEO Bader use this data to MOH’s team through its official social media Nasser Al-Kharafi efforts against verify their identity channels. Zain also broadcasted official MOH said: “changing the during future awareness videos on coronavirus disease name of Zain’s net- COVID-19 check-ups using (COVID-19) in seven languages: Tamil, Telugu, work to ‘Shlonik’ Artificial Intelli- Urdu, Farsi, Filipino, Bengali, and Santhali. came to coincide gence (AI). Zain affirmed its utmost commitment in all with the launch of ‘Shlonik’ is the the instructions and precautionary measures the app that holds main communica- outlined by the Ministry of Health to con- with sanitizers, and the company’s team con- ric devices, and more. the same name. This also comes in line with tion method between home quarantined in- tribute to fighting the spread of coronavirus tinuously and periodically sanitizes all oper- Zain also launched an internal awareness the start of the government’s evacuation dividuals and the Ministry of Health’s team disease (COVID-19) in Kuwait. Zain supplied ational branches and all machines and campaign for the safety of its employees, plan to bring back citizens who are stranded responsible for monitoring their commit- all its branches that are operational during products to ensure the safety of customers through which the company distributed pre- abroad, where we contribute to support ment to home quarantine instructions. The the official break, as well as all its kiosks and and staff. Zain also notified all sales staff to cautionary items and sanitizers to all staff and these efforts and take part in comprehensive team will reach out to the user at least two self-service machines in all of Kuwait’s areas wear medical gloves, stop the use of biomet- sent periodic awareness content. awareness campaigns conducted by the times daily, and request some vitals like country’s various institutions”. their body temperature and overall health. Kharafi continued: “the exceptional cir- The app also allows audio and visual com- cumstances our country is going through munication if needed. because of the coronavirus outbreak forced As part of its national commitment dur- everyone to take their part and unify their ing this crisis, Zain recently offered nearly efforts to face this pandemic . On its part, 30,000 meals in collaboration with the Zain was keen on being a major part of these Kuwait Food Bank, where a large number national efforts by making its tech capabili- of the meals was distributed during the ties available to contribute in enforcing the week dedicated by the Ministry of Health health and safety precautionary measures at Kuwait International Fairgrounds in instructed by MoH and other entities”. Mishref to conduct tests for residents who Kharafi explained that ‘Shlonik’ app was recently entered the country. The meals developed by Zain’s team in collaboration were a contribution by the company to with CAIT and under the supervision and ease the long waiting times while waiting in direction of MoH’s teams. The app was de- line. Many meals are also being continu- signed as per the latest and most advanced ously distributed at Kuwait International standards. Airport’s gates dedicated for residents who Kharafi further added that the new app are returning to their countries because of mainly aims at utilizing the latest tech solu- this crisis. tions to monitor the commitment of citizens Zain also offers many smartphone who recently returned to Kuwait as part of charging stations at Kuwait International the government’s evacuation plan in home Airport to serve Kuwaiti citizens who are quarantine instructions. The app is also an returning home as part of the Ministry of essential tool to pair with the smart wrist Foreign Affairs’ evacuation plan to bring bracelet being distributed at Kuwait Inter- Kuwaitis back home from all over the world national Airport to anyone taking part in during this crisis. This contribution aimed at home quarantine”. facilitating communication between return- Kharafi noted that changing the name of ing Kuwaitis and their families as soon as Zain’s network to ‘Shlonik’ came to remind they arrive to Kuwait. Zain is also continu- customers of the importance of download- ously distributing a large number of meals ing the app on their smartphones and con- to them in collaboration with the Kuwait tribute to minimizing contact as much as Food Bank and the Directorate General of possible, as well as making sure that every- Civil Aviation (DGCA). one is committing to home quarantine in- As part of its commitment to the nation structions and MoH’s directives. This goes during this crisis, Zain also announced of- for people who are under home quarantine, fering free Internet caps and local voice family members residing with them at calls for a period of one month in collabo- home, or members of the community. ration with the Communication and Infor- Kharafi concluded: “we hope that these mation Technology Regulatory Authority unified efforts between the private and (CITRA). The initiative came as part of the

How to renew visas during lockdown

By Nawara Fattahova newal process. For holders of article 20 visas (domes- KUWAIT: Due to the present situation tic helpers): The sponsor (kafeel) should and the closure of public institutions, the apply for the medical insurance of the do- ministry of interior has provided more e- mestic worker on his sponsorship online services on its official website through the official website of the min- www.moi.gov.kw to allow residents to istry of health www.moh.gov.kw after renew their visas. Recently, the ministry paying the fees. The sponsor should then extended the validity of all visas that ex- register an account on www.moi.gov.kw pired from March 1 onwards till May 31, to receive a username and password. He 2020. This includes all kinds of visit visas then clicks on General Department for and all types of residency visas. Residency’s renew residency tab and en- Apart of this temporary renewal, and ters the ID and password to complete the after May 31, expats can renew their visas visa renewal process of his workers. as following: For holders of article 22 visas (family For holders of article 18 visas (expat em- dependents): The sponsor (husband, fa- ployees working in the private sector): The ther, mother, son, daughter and others) employer should renew the visas of its em- should apply for the medical insurance of ployees after registering the company at the family member on their sponsorship the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) online through the official website of the and receiving a special code to complete ministry of health www.moh.gov.kw after the procedure of visa renewal online. The paying the fees. The sponsor should then mandoub should personally visit PAM to register an account on www.moi.gov.kw receive the code. The applicant (represen- to receive a username and password. tative of the company who has the code) They then click on the General Depart- should then apply for the medical insurance ment for Residency’s renew residency tab of each employee online through the official and enter the ID and password to com- website of the ministry of health plete the visa renewal of the dependent. www.moh.gov.kw after paying the fees. For holders of article 24 visas (self- Then the applicant should visit sponsors): It’s the same procedure as visa www.moi.gov.kw and register the com- 20 and visa 22, where the applicant does pany to receive a code with a username the medical insurance for himself and re- and password that will be used for all ap- news the visa for himself as well. plications. The applicant then clicks on Other visa types have not been added General Department for Residency’s yet to the e-service on www.moi.gov.kw, renew residency tab and enters the ID but the three-month visa extension is and password to complete the visa re- available for them. International TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 COVID-19: Pakistan repatriates stranded Japan’s virus cases surge over 10,000; hospitals stretched Page 8 UAE-based nationals Page 8

ELMSDALE, Canada: A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) forensic identification unit photographs the body of a deceased man after a deadly shooting rampage, at the Big Stop near Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, Canada. —AFP Gunman in mock-up police car kills 16 Canada’s worst-ever shooting rampage

MONTREAL: A gunman who drove a mock-up police pital with non-life threatening injuries, Bergerman multiple sites in the area, including structures that car killed at least 16 people in an Atlantic Canada said.The National Post newspaper said another victim were on fire,” Leather told the news conference. shooting rampage, federal police said Sunday, the worst was an elementary school teacher, citing a Facebook Another police spokesperson said, without further case of its kind in Canadian history. The shooter, identi- post from the woman’s sister. details, that the gunman was killed after an officer fied as Gabriel Wortman, 51, was shot dead by officers Several victims were discovered both outside and intervened. Turkey blocks after a 12-hour manhunt in Nova Scotia province ended inside a house in Portapique, sparking the manhunt An independent agency, the Serious Incident Sunday morning. Among the victims was a veteran through multiple communities, police said. “The search Response Team (SiRT), which probes certain incidents female constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted for the suspect ended this morning when the suspect involving the province’s police, said that it “is investi- Saudi, UAE news Police, which also handles municipal and provincial law was located. And I can confirm that he is deceased,” gating the shooting of a male in Enfield by RCMP offi- enforcement in the province. RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather told a cers.” SiRT said in a statement that a confrontation Police said the suspect had been on the run since had occurred in Enfield, which is near the Halifax air- websites Saturday night, when officers were alerted to shots port, “resulting in officers discharging their firearms. ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities blocked Saudi fired in the town of Portapique, around 100 kilometers The suspect was found to be deceased at the scene.” and United Arab Emirates news websites on from Halifax. Gun violence in Canada is far less fre- Police said they had no indication of a motive. Sunday, days after the sites of Turkey’s state quent than in the neighboring United States, and Shooter killed Lucki told CBC there was no indication “at this point” broadcaster and news agency were blocked in weapons more strictly controlled, but the killings were of a terrorist intent. “What I would say is that it Saudi Arabia. The apparently reciprocal the country’s worst ever, exceeding the toll in 1989 appears to be at least in part, very random in nature,” after a 12-hour moves come four weeks after Turkish prose- when a gunman murdered 14 female students at said Leather. cutors indicted 20 Saudis over the killing of Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique. “We are in the early stages of an incredibly detailed manhunt journalist Jamal Kashoggi at the Saudi con- Public broadcaster CBC quoted RCMP and complex investigation that has forever changed Commissioner Brenda Lucki as saying police know of countless lives,” he said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sulate in Istanbul, a killing that soured rela- at least 16 victims, besides the shooter. “What has said in a statement that he “was saddened to learn tions between Ankara and Riyadh. unfolded overnight and into this morning is incompre- about the senseless violence in Nova Scotia,” and he Internet users in Turkey trying to access hensible and many families are experiencing the loss of hopes for a full recovery of the wounded. the sites of Saudi news agency SPA, the UAE’s a loved one,” Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer, press conference. Leather said that at one point, the The National Post quoted Tom Taggart, a councilor WAM news agency and more than a dozen Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, wrote on the suspect appeared to be wearing part of a police uni- who represents Portapique in the Municipality of other sites saw a message saying that they force’s local Facebook page. form and was driving a vehicle made to look like an Colchester, as saying the community was devastated. were blocked under a law governing internet “That includes our own RCMP family. It is with RCMP cruiser. He described the community as a “subdivision in the publications in Turkey. A spokesman at tremendous sadness that I share with you that we lost woods where people have acre lots along the shore,” Turkey’s Justice Ministry declined to comment Constable Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the Fires burned and where Wortman owned three properties. “It’s on the actions and Saudi Arabia’s government Force who was killed this morning, while responding to RCMP tweeted several times that he was not an absolutely unbelievable this could happen in our com- media office did not immediately respond to a an active shooter incident.” In addition to Stevenson, a officer and warned he was considered “armed and munity. I never dreamt this would happen here,” Reuters request for comment. mother of two, a male officer was injured and is in hos- dangerous.” “The initial search for the suspect led to Taggart said.—AFP The Turkish website of the UK-based Independent newspaper, which is operated by a Saudi company, was one of the sites to as of Sunday, Germany has been one of the coun- blocked on Sunday, in a move that its editor said reflected political tensions between Saudi tries worst hit by COVID-19, but also one of the With virus ‘under Arabia and Turkey. “We believe the tensions quickest to react. On Friday, the Robert Koch between Saudi Arabia and Turkey reflected on Institute for public health announced that the rate us,” editor Nevzat Cicek told Reuters. control’, Germany of infection - the number of people each ill person Sunday’s decision appeared to be “retaliation contaminates - had dropped below one for the first against Saudi Arabia”, he said. begins opening up time, leading Health Minister Jens Spahn to declare Saudi Arabia had blocked access to several the virus “under control”. Yet Merkel, who was her- Turkish media websites a week earlier, includ- BERLIN: Germany takes its first steps back towards self quarantined for two weeks earlier this month ing state broadcaster TRT and the state- normality yesterday, with smaller shops in some regions before testing negative for the virus, has warned owned Anadolu agency. Residents in the opening up for the first time in a month after politicians that Germany’s success remains “fragile”. United Arab Emirates, a close ally of Saudi declared the coronavirus “under control”. From florists “We will not be able to go back to our normal BERLIN: People gather in Volkspark Wilmersdorf Arabia, said the Turkish websites were acces- to fashion stores, the majority of shops smaller than lives for a long time,” said her conservative party Park in Berlin amid the novel coronavirus COVID-19 sible on Sunday. Tensions between Turkey and 800 square meters (8,600 square feet) will be allowed colleague Armin Laschet, the state premier of pandemic. —AFP Saudi Arabia escalated sharply after Saudi to welcome customers again, in a firstwave of relax- North-Rhine Westphalia, the country’s most popu- agents killed Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi ations to strict curbs on public life introduced last lous region. In an interview with Der Spiegel Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince month. Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional state weekly, Laschet warned that some coronavirus shops unable to open, the German Trade Association Mohammed bin Salman, at the Saudi consulate premiers announced the decision to reopen last week, restrictions could last until 2021. A ban on gather- warned Friday of a possible “distortion of competi- in Istanbul in October 2018. though they have been careful to cast it as no more than ings of more than two people and a requirement to tion”. Yet Economy Minister Peter Altmaier defend- Last month Istanbul prosecutors indicted a cautious first step. While the first shops will open their stand more than 1.5 meters apart from others in ed the 800-square-metre limit, saying that “the belt one of the prince’s close aides and a former doors yesterday, each of Germany’s 16 states is set to lift public areas remain in force. That means that hair- can only be loosened bit by bit”. deputy head of Saudi general intelligence on the restrictions at a slightly different pace. In some dressers, initially deemed an essential business, charges of instigating Khashoggi’s killing, as states such as the capital Berlin, reopening will take a lit- cannot open until at least May 4. Schools reopening well as 18 men it said carried out the opera- tle longer. Merkel, who has been praised for her han- Cultural venues, bars, leisure centres and beauty Schools will also be partially reopened in the tion. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said dling of the coronavirus crisis, is hoping to reinvigorate salons will also remain closed for the time being, coming weeks, with most states set to welcome the killing was ordered at the “highest levels” the ailing German economy, which officially entered into while large-scale public events such as concerts and back older students from May 4. Education poli- of the Saudi government. Prince Mohammed recession last week. football matches have been banned until August 31. cy is traditionally decided at state level in has denied ordering the killing but said he But Germans can look forward to at least some Germany, and Bavaria, the region worst hit by bore ultimate responsibility as the kingdom’s ‘Fragile’ relaxations to the existing shutdown although they the virus so far, will keep its schools closed for de facto leader.—Reuters With 139,897 confirmed cases and 4,294 deaths have not been welcomed by everyone. With larger an extra week. —AFP

harassed its ships. The US Department of Defense “blocking the path” of Iranian ship Shahid Gulf with Apache attack helicopters. Iran says US giving had accused Tehran of dangerous and provocative Siavoshi on April 6 and 7 with “dangerous “We advise Americans to follow international actions on Wednesday, saying 11 of the Guards’ behavior while ignoring warnings”. regulations and maritime protocols in the Arabian ‘Hollywood’ account vessels “repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns The IRGC in response increased maritime Gulf and Sea of Oman and avoid any adventurism of the US vessels at extremely close range and patrols, the statement said, and encountered and false stories,” the IRGC said. It warned that high speeds”. American warships on April 15. The 11 patrol boats any “miscalculation will receive a decisive of Gulf encounter The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “forced them to draw back from the path of Sepah response”. Tensions have risen between the two (IRGC) said in a statement on its official web- (IRGC) vessels, despite the provocative and arch foes since the US withdrew from a landmark TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Sunday site that the US Navy “has presented an incor- unprofessional actions” of US ships, which ignored nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran in said the US gave a “Hollywood” account of an rect and agenda-fuelled narrative of this warnings. According to a US Navy statement, 2018. They escalated when Washington killed encounter between the two states’ navies in the encounter, which shows the Americans’ interest Navy and Coast Guard ships were conducting IRGC top commander Major General Qasem Gulf, after Washington said Tehran’s vessels had in Hollywood stories”. It accused the US of operations in international waters in the northern Soleimani in a drone strike in January. —AFP Established 1961 7 International Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Death sparks unrest at a migrant camp in Greece Fire rips through one of Greece’s largest migrant camps

ATHENS: A fire ripped through one of Greece’s set them on fire.” “We are not safe at all, we are very largest migrant camps leaving widespread damage scared... We can’t sleep at night,” she said. Both and many people homeless after the death of an women said police fired tear gas to disperse the Iraqi woman sparked unrest, officials said yesterday. protesters. The blaze late Saturday at Vial camp on Chios island destroyed the facilities of the European asylum Camps under quarantine service, a camp canteen, warehouse tents and many At least three vehicles outside the camp were housing containers, Migration Ministry Secretary also gutted. A police source in Athens said two Manos Logothetis told AFP. “A large part of the Afghans and an Iraqi had been arrested in relation to camp’s administrative services was destroyed,” said the unrest, which erupted after a 47-year-old asy- Logothetis, adding that no injuries were reported. lum seeker from Iraq died in the camp on Saturday. The UN refugee “We managed to restore agency’s spokesman in order at around 1 am... Athens, Boris Cheshirkov, There were many people said the damage is still who took part in the inci- being evaluated but that Many people dents,” another police many camp residents have source on Chios said. The likely been left homeless. rendered Iraqi woman who died had “Authorities are still been taken with a fever to assessing the damages but homeless a hospital earlier this week. a few hundred people are At the time, a test for coro- likely affected because navirus had returned nega- their shelters have burned tive, state news agency down. We have donated ANA reported Saturday. tents to the authorities which can quickly be put into Migrant camps in Greece have been under quar- use and we will assist in replacing the warehouse antine in recent weeks, with authorities trying to tents,” he told AFP. keep residents apart from locals. The virus has so far CHIOS: A Somali woman sits outside her tent in the Vial camp on the island of Chios which has only Anissa, a 22-year-old asylum-seeker from killed 110 people in Greece. Another 67 are in inten- 1,000 places, but houses nearly 5,000 asylum seekers in unsanitary conditions. —AFP Somalia who declined to give her last name out of sive care. No coronavirus cases have been reported concern for her safety, said the fire “burned two big in island camps so far, but two camps on the main- tents and each tent has more than 20 homes” inside. land have registered cases. As with all of Greece’s stranded in Greece after other European states moving hundreds of elderly and ailing asylum seek- Aziza Husseini, a 30-year-old mother of two from island camps, Vial is massively overcrowded with closed their borders in 2016. Overall, more than ers out of the island camps to protect them from the Afghanistan, said a group of camp residents more than 5,000 people living in space intended for 36,000 people are sheltering in the camps on coronavirus. A scheme to gradually relocate 1,600 “attacked the food warehouses, set fire to the info around 1,000. islands near Turkey that were originally built for unaccompanied minors from war-torn countries to point, took the food refrigerators into the camp and Some 100,000 asylum seekers are currently 6,100. The migration ministry has said it will begin other European nations also began this week. —AFP

tims run into their erstwhile torturers in the street. In Germany, Raslan, a former colonel, arrived in Germany as a refugee himself in July 2014, having deserted the Syrian army two years earlier. Syrians take their Bunni said Raslan was the man who arrested him at Death of 44 jihadists his Damascus home in May 2006 and threw him in a torturers to court state prison, where the lawyer spent five years until shrouded in mystery he was freed during the Syrian uprising in 2011. The BERLIN: When Anwar Al-Bunni crossed paths with two men arrived in Berlin within two months of each N’DJAMENA: The deaths by apparent poison- fellow Syrian Anwar Raslan in a DIY store in other, and crossed paths when they were briefly stay- ing of 44 suspected Boko Haram jihadists in a Germany five years ago, he recognised him as the ing in the same centre for asylum seekers. “I told Chad prison were shrouded in mystery on man who had thrown him in jail a decade earlier. On myself that I knew this man, but I didn’t recognize him Sunday, with observers wondering whether they Thursday, the two men will face each other in a instantly,” Bunni told AFP, drawing on an e-cigarette. were murdered or had committed collective sui- German court, where Raslan will be one of two A few months later, he came face to face with his BERLIN: Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar Al-Bunni cide. The semi-desert country’s chief prosecutor alleged captor once again-this time in a store-and alleged former Syrian intelligence officers in the dock speaks to an AFP reporter in his office in Berlin. —AFP Youssouf Tom said late Saturday that the pris- accused of crimes against humanity for Bashar al- finally recognized him. oners were found dead in their cells in the Assad’s regime. N’Djamena jail on Thursday. In the first legal proceedings worldwide over ‘Not about revenge’ ed in February 2019. Raslan now stands accused of An autopsy carried out on four of the dead state-sponsored torture in Syria, Raslan will be A Syrian lawyer in his sixties, Bunni was an inde- having overseen the murder of 58 people and the tor- prisoners revealed traces of a lethal substance tried under the principle of universal jurisdiction- fatigable advocate for human rights in his home coun- ture of 4,000 others while in charge of the Al-Khatib that had caused heart attacks or severe which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes try, but has lived as a refugee in Berlin. Unable to pur- detention centre in Damascus between 2011 and 2012. asphyxiation, he said. Officials said the 44 were against humanity. For Bunni, speaking to AFP in sue his profession in Germany, he now collects evi- Another Syrian, 43-year-old Eyad Al-Gharib, is among a group of 58 suspects captured during Berlin, the trial will send “an important message” to dence and testimonies against the regime. While accused of having been an accomplice. “This is not a major army operation around Lake Chad the Assad regime: “You will never have impunity, so Bunni will not be one of the plaintiffs in Thursday’s tri- about revenge, it is about exposing the truth,” launched by President Idriss Deby Itno early think about it!” al, he is a respected figure in Germany’s 700,000 German lawyer Patrick Kroker said. He represents six this month. strong Syrian community, and has convinced numer- Syrian plaintiffs, who may yet be joined by a further They were to have been tried by a criminal ‘I knew this man’ - ous victims to come forward. two women. Now refugees in various European court, Justice Minister Djimet Arabi told AFP. Germany has taken in more than a million asylum In 2016, when he started working together with countries, these victims of torture by the Damascus “What happened in the meantime? We are still seekers-many fleeing war in Syria and Iraq-and as a local lawyers, Bunni learned that German investiga- regime “want the world to learn about what happened in shock,” Arabi said, adding that an investiga- result sometimes become a surreal arena where vic- tors already had their eye on Raslan, who was arrest- there,” said Kroker. —AFP tion has been launched. Before Tom’s announce- ment, a security source, speaking on condition told AFP on Sunday. He did not elaborate but many in of anonymity, told AFP that the prisoners had Calls mount for PM Maseru suspect President Cyril Ramaphosa had dis- been held in “a single cell and were given noth- patched the envoy to the tiny kingdom surrounded by ing to eat or drink for two days”. But the justice South Africa in a bid to facilitate talks between Thabane minister insisted “there was no mistreatment and to resign as Lesotho and his opponents. US, British and European Union (EU) the prisoners were fine the day before”. ambassadors and commissioners, leaders called on Opposition and civil society groups demand- soldiers withdraw Maseru to remember “the importance of maintaining sta- ed answers on Sunday. “It’s a serious violation of bility and the rule of law”. “We urge a united approach international humanitarian law,” said Jean Bosco Manga, founder of the Citizens’ Movement for MASERU: Lesotho troops deployed by Prime Minister that prioritises the protection of citizens and the provision the Preservation of Liberties. “When the enemy Thomas Thabane amid a showdown with opponents of essential services,” they said in a signed statement. is under your control, disarmed, he must enjoy demanding the octogenerian leader resign withdrew all humanitarian protections.” Mahamat Alabo, a from the capital’s streets on Sunday. Thabane faces Grip on power leading opposition figure, said: “The Chadian mounting calls to step down from rivals within his ruling In power since 2017, Thabane, 80, deployed troops government is responsible for what happened to party and opposition groups over suspicions he had a on Saturday a day after the constitutional court over- MASERU: Lesotho Defense Force are seen stationed in them in prison. “The causes must really be deter- hand in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017. turned his decision to suspend parliament for three a street in Maseru. —AFP mined,” he said, calling for an independent An AFP journalist in the capital Maseru reported that months. The premier has been under immense pressure investigation. soldiers backed by armored vehicles had returned to to step down after police investigations suggested his The government says the 14 prisoners who barracks by Sunday morning. Thabane had deployed involvement in the murder of his late wife, Lipolelo party rivals, whom he accused of plotting to topple his survived would be questioned over the circum- them the day before to “restore order” while accusing Thabane, three years ago. In March, Thabane imposed a government. Although no case of coronavirus has yet stances of the deaths. An expert on Boko Haram unnamed law enforcement agencies of undermining three-month suspension of parliament shortly after the been reported in the mountain kingdom, citizens were at London University, Bulama Bukarti, told AFP democracy. The army spokesman was not immediately national assembly passed a bill barring him from calling last week placed under confinement until at least today the prisoners may have swallowed poison to available for comment. Diplomatic moves to calm the fresh elections if he loses a no-confidence vote hanging to stem any spread of the disease. Thabane’s order took avoid the humiliation of a trial or to avoid situation were meanwhile gathering pace. over his head. it a step further, deploying the army against unnamed divulging strategic information. But he said no A South African envoy has arrived in Lesotho, He ordered the security forces and intelligence serv- “rogue” national elements he said wanted to destabilize such group suicide has occurred in the past. Thabane’s senior private secretary Thabo Thakalekoala ice to probe his ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) Lesotho. —AFP Bukarti speculated however that they may have followed the example of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who blew himself ed by jihadist attacks as well as the kidnapping of National Assembly. Voting took place in the capital as up when a US raid chased him into a dead-end Mali poll marred opposition leader Soumaila Cisse. well as the troubled central town of Mopti and Gao in tunnel in his Syrian hideout last October. the north, according to residents. ‘Consolidate our democracy’ Vengeance? by intimidation “I voted. It is important despite the economic situa- Delays Another possibility is that Chadian security tion. We need new MPs to consolidate our democra- It was the country’s first parliamentary poll since forces poisoned the prisoners, Bukarti said, per- BAMAKO: Acts of intimidation and allegations of vote cy,” Moussa Diakite, a 23-year-old student said. 2013 when President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s Rally haps to avenge the deaths of 98 soldiers in a buying marred the final round of legislative elections in Another student, Hamchetou Toure, said she wore a for Mali party won a big majority. Turnout in the first March 23 attack on a base at Bohoma, in the Mali on Sunday aimed at reviving confidence in face mask and observed social distancing rules as she round averaged over 35 percent nationwide but was Lake Chad marshlands. It was the largest one- embattled institutions despite a bloody jihadist conflict voted in the semi-desert country, which has so far less than 13 percent in the capital Bamako. On day loss the vaunted Chadian army has ever suf- and a virus pandemic. In central Mali, the president of recorded 216 cases of the virus including 13 deaths. Sunday’s second-round vote, turnout was 23.2 percent, fered, and it prompted the massive military a voting station was forcibly removed and representa- Among the measures taken by the government are a according to Synergie, which had dispatched election operation against Boko Haram. tives of the electoral commission “chased away by night-time curfew, school closures and restrictions on observers. Bukarti noted that humanitarian groups had armed men”, one of the representatives said. Military some activities - but people still filled markets, The election had been meant to take place in late reported “thousands” of killings of suspected sources confirmed the incident. mosques and public transport. 2018 after Keita was returned to office but was post- Boko Haram members by the region’s armies Elsewhere, voting was cancelled after jihadists The Synergie said anti-virus protection kits had poned several times, mainly because of security con- without due process. “The third possible sce- threatened to attack voters, witnesses said. Already on been distributed to over 96 percent of polling stations cerns. A “national dialogue” staged last year to discuss nario is that Chad never captured those Boko Saturday, unknown assailants had destroyed voting that it visited across the former French colony. It said Mali’s spiral of violence called for the ballot to be com- Haram fighters in the first place. It could be that equipment in northern Mali. And on Sunday, observer poll workers wore masks in over 87 percent of the sta- pleted by May. The hope is that the new MPs will Chad exaggerated the figure of the fighters it umbrella group Synergie said there had been many tions visited. Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries, endorse changes to the constitution that will promote arrested just as many see the 1,000 they said incidents of vote buying at several voting stations. The is struggling with an Islamist revolt that has claimed decentralization. That is the key to pushing ahead with they killed as inflated,” Bukarti said. “The only first provisional results are to be announced at the thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands the government’s plans for peace. It signed a deal with way to save face in this case would be to con- start of the week. The election had been repeatedly from their homes. Sunday’s runoff in the West African armed separatists in northern Mali in 2015 but the pact coct a story like this,” he said. —AFP delayed, and the first round on March 29 was disrupt- nation of 19 million people is for 147 seats in the has largely stalled. —AFP 8 Established 1961 International Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Europe plans slow reopening; NY passes peak in virus battle Governments now debating how and when to ease lockdowns

NEW YORK: Hard-hit European nations began ratory in the ground zero city of Wuhan may preparing for a slow reopening and the US epicen- have spawned the pandemic. The lab rejected ter New York reported headway Sunday in their such theories as “impossible.” battle against the deadly pandemic. Governments across the world are now debating how and when Ice-rink morgue closing to ease lockdowns that have kept more than half of Spain registered 410 new fatalities on Sunday, humanity - 4.5 billion people-confined to their the lowest daily count in almost a month, and a fig- homes and crippled the global economy. ure that health ministry emergencies coordinator Europe saw encouraging signs Sunday, with Fernando Simon said “gives us hope.” The authori- Italy, Spain, France and Britain showing drops in ties are even starting to shut some makeshift facili- daily death tolls and slowing infection rates. The ties set up to relieve the overburdened health sys- continent accounts for almost two-thirds of the tem, including a morgue at a Madrid ice rink. France nearly 165,000 fatalities reported across the globe said a nationwide lockdown in force for a month out of more than 2.3 million declared infections, was beginning to bear fruit, with death tolls and according to an AFP tally. In the United States-the hospitalizations declining. country with the highest number of deaths and “We are scoring points against the epidemic,” infections-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, while insist- the outbreak was “on the descent,” though he cau- ing “we are not out of the health crisis yet.” In tioned that it was “no time Britain, the government of to get cocky.” Prime Minister Boris Mounting evidence Johnson-himself recover- suggests that the lock- ing from the virus-faced downs and social distanc- Death toll fresh criticism over his ing are slowing the spread mounts, early response to the crisis of the virus. That has and shortages of protec- intensified planning in economy tive equipment. many countries to begin crippled DUBAI: Employees load the body of a COVID-19 victim into the furnace at the New Sonapur Hindu loosening curbs on move- ‘Past the high point’ crematorium in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai. —AFP ment and easing the The United States has crushing pressure on the highest caseload of any national economies. Hard- country, with more than chafing under stay-at-home orders, and some have the weekend by lending support to protests against hit Spain has extended a nationwide shutdown but 759,000 confirmed infections and nearly 41,000 taken to the streets to protest. New anti-lockdown the lockdown restrictions-which medical experts said it would ease restrictions to allow children time deaths. But in New York state, Governor Cuomo demonstrations over the weekend drew hundreds of say save countless lives. outside. Switzerland, Denmark and Finland all said, “We are past the high point, and all indications people in states including Colorado, Texas, In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro-who has began reopening shops and schools. at this point is that we are on the descent.” After Maryland, New Hampshire and Ohio. Many waved repeatedly claimed the virus threat is overblown- Germany will allow some shops to reopen days of bickering between Trump and several gov- American flags, and some carried weapons. But oth- joined hundreds of protesters in Brasilia who Monday after declaring the virus “under con- ernors on the extent of federal help for the states, ers stayed in their cars or wore protective masks. objected to state governors’ stay-home orders. trol,” while Italy-once the hardest-hit European Cuomo adopted a tempered tone Sunday, saying In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis allowed Brazil has the most infections in Latin America, a country-mulled easing restrictions. Iran, which the joint federal and state effort had been a “phe- selected beaches to re-open for “essential activi- region where an AFP tally on Sunday showed total has the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak, allowed nomenal accomplishment.” ties.” Although fog shrouded the area around the cases had surpassed 100,000 with nearly 5,000 some “low-risk” businesses to reopen Saturday. But he cautioned that without more federal help, state’s Jacksonville Beach, those who turned out deaths. For many of the world’s 260 million The tentatively hopeful signs come with the cash-strapped states will suffer severely. “You’ll see were “keeping their distance” from each other, Orthodox Christians marking Easter, the celebra- United States and China squabbling over sug- a cut to hospitals in the midst of this,” he said. Captain Rich Banks of Neptune Beach Ocean tion took place at home, with services online or on gestions by President Donald Trump that a labo- Americans and others around the world have been Rescue said. Trump fueled another bout of fury over television. —AFP

News in brief cases and 41 deaths. This year’s Arabian Travel COVID-19: Pakistan Market, a major regional tourism fair in Dubai that had already been rescheduled to June from April, Brazilian drug lord expelled repatriates stranded was cancelled. The exhibition centre in which it was set to take place is being used as a hospital to treat MAPUTO: Mozambique on Sunday expelled one of Brazil’s patients with COVID-19, the respiratory disease most wanted criminals, an alleged drug lord who has been UAE-based nationals caused by the new coronavirus. on the run for two decades. Gilberto “Fuminho” Aparecido The UAE said last week it would review labor dos Santos was sent home on a Brazilian air force plane DUBAI: Pakistan has started repatriating some of its citizens from the United Arab Emirates, which relations with states refusing to evacuate citizens, that left Maputo in the dead of night at 1:30 am with including those who have lost jobs or been put on dozens of police officers on board, the authorities said. had threatened to review labor ties with countries Brazil’s justice ministry said Sunday that dos Santos is refusing to take back their nationals during the leave, after the ambassadors of India and Pakistan already in a federal prison in the country. Dos Santos was novel coronavirus pandemic. The first Pakistan said their countries were not yet ready to do so. arrested last Monday in an international sting operation International Airlines (PIA) flight carrying 227 PIA said on its website that it would not be able to provide services for inbound flights beyond that included agents from Brazil, Mozambique and the US “stranded passengers” from Dubai and other emi- ISLAMABAD: Local residents wearing facemasks and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Mozambican rates left for Islamabad on Saturday evening, Islamabad International Airport because of the practicing social distancing hold placards as they authorities decided on Friday to expel him for allegedly Pakistan’s consulate general in Dubai said in a suspension of domestic flights and a lockdown in protest against quarantine facility center set up in entering the country illegally but kept the decision secret Twitter post. the country. their neighborhood during a government-imposed until he had left. He is an alleged leader of the First Capital More flights would depart the UAE from Millions of foreign workers, many from Asia, form nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against Command (PCC), considered to be Brazil’s top criminal Monday to April 28, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spe- the backbone of Gulf economies and work in sec- the COVID-19 coronavirus in Islamabad. —AFP gang wielding control over cocaine supply routes from cial assistant to Pakistan’s prime minister, said on tors that have been disrupted by the coronavirus Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. —AFP Twitter. More than 40,000 Pakistanis in the Gulf outbreak. The pandemic is also likely to disrupt the Arab state have registered with the consulate to significant remittances those workers send back to 24 hours. It said 83% of the new confirmed cases their home countries. The total infection count in the Thousands of Israelis protest return home, two UAE newspapers reported. The were among non-Saudi nationals. Kuwait’s 90-year- UAE and other Gulf states have reported increased six Gulf states has risen steadily to more than old ruler, Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, infections among low-income migrant workers who 26,600, with 167 deaths, despite containment meas- addressed the nation on Sunday to welcome back TEL AVIV: Thousands of Israelis demonstrated Sunday in Tel ures such as halting passenger flights, curfews and Aviv to warn against what they said was a threat to democra- live in overcrowded quarters. Some have moved to the first group of Kuwaitis returned home under a re-house them in shuttered schools or dedicated in several cases locking down districts with large new repatriation program. He urged them to comply cy from ongoing coalition talks between Prime Minister populations of low-income expatriate workers. Benjamin Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz. Some centers, and are trying to arrange flights to repatri- with all isolation and quarantine guidelines given by Saudi Arabia, which has the most infections and 2,000 protesters, according to media estimates, followed a ate them. authorities in the Gulf state, which has recorded call launched on Facebook by the “Black Flag” movement On Sunday, the UAE announced 479 new cases deaths among Gulf Cooperation Council states, at seven deaths, including one on Sunday, and almost which condemns Netanyahu’s continuing rule. Israel’s parlia- and four more deaths, bringing its total to 6,781 9,362 and 97, recorded a record 1,088 new cases in 2,000 cases of the infection. —Reuters ment was tasked with forming a government on Thursday after speaker Gantz and Netanyahu missed a deadline to seal European countries, but its caseload is one of Asia’s on the verge of collapse in many places in Japan,” said an alliance, but negotiations between the sides were ongoing. Japan’s virus cases highest after China and India, and is roughly on par Kentaro Iwata, an infectious diseases specialist from Israel’s deeply divided 120-member parliament has no clear with South Korea. Kobe University who has repeatedly criticized the path towards a stable governing coalition, so the move risks There have been 171 deaths recorded so far in government’s response to the crisis. prolonging the country’s worst-ever political crisis. Gantz surge over 10,000; Japan and 10,751 cases, with the country under a Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Iwata said and Netanyahu could still agree on an emergency unity gov- month-long state of emergency, initially covering sev- Japan’s strategy of limited testing and intensive con- ernment to help Israel confront the COVID-19 pandemic, prospect the protesters spoke out against. —AFP hospitals stretched en regions but now in place nationwide. Prime tact-tracing worked well in the initial phase of the Minister Shinzo Abe has urged residents to reduce local outbreak, when numbers were small. But he TOKYO: Japanese medics are warning more must be contact with other people by 70 to 80 percent, and charged that Japan failed to adapt as the outbreak ‘Armed bandits’ kill 47 done to prevent the coronavirus from overwhelming the number of people on Tokyo’s normally packed grew. “We needed to prepare for once the situation the country’s healthcare system as confirmed cases transport system has dropped significantly. changes, once the cluster-chasing became not effec- BAUCHI: Gunmen killed 47 people in attacks on villages in passed 10,000, despite a nationwide state of emer- But the measures do not prevent people from going tive and we needed to change strategy immediately,” the northwestern Nigerian state of Katsina in the early hours gency. Experts have been alarmed by a recent spike in out, and many shops and even restaurants remain he said. “But traditionally speaking, and historically of Saturday, local police said. “Armed bandits”, some of COVID-19 infections, with hundreds detected daily. open, even as medical associations warn the country’s speaking, Japan is not very good at changing strate- whom wielded AK 47 guns, carried out the attacks, Katsina Japan’s outbreak remains less severe than in hard-hit healthcare system is struggling to cope. “The system is gy,” he added. —AFP police said in a statement on Sunday. Hundreds of people have been killed in the last year by criminal gangs carrying room. Access to clean water is not guaranteed. Soap out robberies and kidnappings in northwest Nigeria. Such Life under lockdown has become a luxury. “Anything can happen. There are attacks have added to security challenges in Africa’s most nine people in this room, all of us could be in danger,” populous country, which is already struggling to contain said migrant worker Namchand Mandal, who is from Islamist insurgencies in the northeast and communal vio- in India’s massive the northeastern state of Jharkhand. Dharavi has 138 lence over grazing rights in central states. Gunmen, some reported cases so far, but experts fear that number will with AK 47 guns, carried out the attacks in three local gov- ernment authorities in the state in the early hours of Dharavi slum accelerate higher. “I am really worried it is just a matter Saturday between 12:30 am and around 3 am, Katsina police of time,” virologist Shahid Jameel said of Mumbai’s said in its statement. —Reuters MUMBAI: In homes that are cramped, stuffy and slums, which are home to an estimated 65% of the increasingly low on food, residents of Mumbai’s huge city’s core population of around 12 million. Dharavi slum are struggling under India’s nationwide Anxious residents have tied handkerchiefs or shirt Refugee women face risk lockdown. In Dharavi, where an estimated one million sleeves around their faces in lieu of proper masks. people live, residents are stretching out meals and rely- Some have also barricaded alleyways using carts, bicy- cles and sticks. Signs warn outsiders to keep away. Still, GENEVA: Displaced women and girls are facing a ing on donations. But anxiety has been building since MUMBAI: Laborers carry fire wood at the Dharavi slum many residents say it is impossible to stay confined in heightened risk of gender-based violence during the the lockdown began on March 25. during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown coronavirus crisis, the UN Refugee Agency said yester- “I used to feed my children when I went out for small rooms, which are sometimes shared by day labor- as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coron- day. The UNHCR said they may be forced into “survival work, but now there is only sorrow and no work,” said ers who work different shifts. Deep in the slums, people avirus in Mumbai. —AFP sex” or child marriages. Lockdowns imposed to control Najma Mohammad, who was employed at a garment throng informal markets. Some adults kill time playing the spread of COVID-19 have restricted movement and shop that has closed. Her son and two daughters rely chess or watching videos on their cell phones. Children led to the closure of services. “We need to pay urgent on food handouts from neighbors, she added. Dharavi, play cricket and cards. them with sticks, according to a Reuters witness. “It’s attention to the protection of refugee, displaced and believed to be Asia’s largest slum, is a tough place to be One tailor opened his small shop early in the morn- very difficult. No one listens to us,” said one police stateless women and girls at the time of this pandemic,” confined, and also one of the most vulnerable to the ing, saying he wanted to make a little money before officer in Dharavi, adding that some bank employees said Gillian Triggs, the UNHCR assistant high commis- new coronavirus because of the density of its popula- police arrived later in the day to enforce the lock- shared special passes with friends so they could move sioner for protection. —AFP tion and poor sanitation. down. Officers have punished lockdown violators by around. Mumbai police did not respond to a request Hundreds of people sometimes share the same bath- making them sit in the sun, do squats or by hitting for comment. —Reuters Established 1961

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 Business

Japan to boost stimulus to $1.1tn Oil price declines on expectations Italy firms shake lockdown 10as virus threatens deeper recession 11 of extended demand slowdown 11 using shortcut in virus law

TOKYO: Pedestrians walk past a quotation board displaying share prices of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo. — AFP Oil prices collapse on storage fears OPEC+ deal fails to balance edgy crude markets

HONG KONG: Oil prices collapsed to more than virus. That has intensified planning in many countries tracted for the first time in decades. two-decade lows yesterday as traders grow con- to begin loosening curbs on movement and easing the US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that cerned that storage facilities are reaching their limits, Caution grips crushing pressure on national economies. Caution Republicans were “close” to getting a deal with while signs that the coronavirus may have peaked in gripped Asian share markets yesterday amid expecta- Democrats on a support package for small business. Europe and the United States were unable to help Asia equities, tions a busy week of corporate earnings reports and The United States has by far the world’s largest num- Asian equities extend their recent advances. Europe rises economic data will drive home the damage done by ber of confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than US crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate the global virus lockdowns. European stocks were 750,000 infections and over 40,500 deaths, according briefly plunged almost 20 percent to below $14.50 — headed for a strong start, however, with the pan- to a Reuters tally. its lowest since 1999 — as stockpiles continue to region EUROSTOXX 50 futures up 1.23 percent, Shanghai, Mumbai and Bangkok rose while London, build owing to a crash in demand caused by the German DAX futures gaining 1.26 percent and FTSE Paris and Frankfurt edged up in early trade. But most COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts said this month’s agree- enough to balance oil markets.” Stock markets were futures up 0.93 percent. E-Mini futures for the S&P other markets were in retreat. Hong Kong was flat, ment between top producers to slash output by 10 mostly lower despite governments starting to consider 500 slipped 0.46 percent, having jumped last week on while Tokyo fell more than one percent as Japan strug- million barrels a day was having little impact on the oil how and when to ease lockdowns that have crippled hopes some US states would soon start re-opening gles to contain the disease, while Sydney shed 2.5 per- crisis because of lockdowns and travel restrictions that the global economy. their economies. cent. Seoul dropped 0.8 percent and Manila dropped are keeping billions of people at home. Italy, Spain, France and Britain reported drops in Japan reported its exports fell almost 12 percent in one percent. There were also losses in Taipei, WTI was hit particularly hard as its main US storage daily death tolls and slowing infection rates, while March from a year earlier, with shipments to the Singapore, Wellington and Jakarta. facilities in Cushing, Oklahoma, were filling up, with Germany began allowing some shops to reopen and United States down over 16 percent. Readings on April “The longer investors have to contemplate future Trifecta Consultants analyst Sukrit Vijayakar saying Norway restarted nurseries. manufacturing globally are due on Thursday and are economic issues while they wait for more countries to refineries were not processing crude fast enough. There expected to hit recession-era lows. Better news came be on the downward slope of the pandemic curve, the are also plenty of supplies from the Middle East with no ‘No time to get cocky’ from New Zealand where success in containing the more scope there is of risk assets pricing in a difficult buyers as “freight costs are high”, he told AFP. “I think “We are scoring points against the epidemic,” said virus allowed the government to announce an easing in future,” Chris Iggo, of AXA Investment Managers UK, we will see a test of the 1998 lows at $11 sooner rather French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, but he insist- the country’s strict lockdown from next week. said. Investors are keeping an eye on Washington, than later,” OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley ed “we are not out of the health crisis yet”. Meanwhile, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares out- where Congress and the White House are working told AFP. And AxiCorp’s Stephen Innes added: “It’s a in the US, Andrew Cuomo, governor of badly hit New side Japan eased 0.23 percent in slow trade, pausing towards a $450 billion economic relief plan for small dump at all cost as no one... wants delivery of oil, with York state, said the disease was “on the descent”, after five straight weeks of gains. Japan’s Nikkei fell business to add to the trillions already pledged to sup- Cushing storage facilities filling by the minute. though he cautioned it was “no time to get cocky”. 1.19 percent, but Chinese shares edged up 0.37 per- port the economy. Big-name companies including IBM, “It hasn’t taken long for the market to recognize Mounting evidence suggests that the lockdowns cent as a benchmark lending rate was lowered to shore Netflix and Coca-Cola are due to deliver their earn- that the OPEC+ deal will not, in its present form, be and social distancing are slowing the spread of the up the coronavirus-hit Chinese economy after it con- ings reports. — Agencies

approached local hospitals offering to barter their to have it all because her ambition is considered to be at Virus wipes away waste paper for surplus masks she had purchased odds with ideas of family life,” she says. Born into a before the crisis hit. upper middle-class family-her mother was a teacher- “But the discussions didn’t go anywhere,” she said Atmar had little doubt that she would pursue a career, Afghan toilet-paper ruefully. even as her life was upended by a brutal civil war. The family fled to Pakistan and only returned to Kabul after maker’s plans ‘Scary threats’ the fall of the Taliban in 2001. As a female entrepreneur in a country where women KABUL: Afghan toilet paper entrepreneur Zuhal Atmar have long battled to have their voices heard, Atmar Dreams dashed overcame patriarchy and security threats to build a fought hard to build her company Gul-e-Mursal Before the lockdown, Atmar’s company processed business that was set to go global due to a coronavirus- (“Damask Rose”). “To get a loan, you need a guarantor, four tonnes of waste in a day, a fraction of the 7,000 induced shortage. a business partner, and of course collateral,” she said. metric tons of garbage collected daily by Kabul’s But then, the supply of her key raw material-trash- “Women don’t usually have access to any of this-men municipality, underlining the scale of the city’s trash dried up. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a have better networks and in most cases, family property problem-and the potential for her business to grow. lockdown in Kabul, forcing scavengers off the streets goes to sons, not daughters, so there’s no collateral,” she Expansion loomed on the horizon earlier this year as and slashing access to the waste paper and cardboard added. KABUL: In this file photo taken on January 22, 2008 Afghan global demand for toilet paper surged in the wake of the which Atmar recycles into pink-and-white loo roll. Her background as a consultant to international boys selling toilet paper wait for customers in Kabul. — AFP coronavirus pandemic and the panic-buying it sparked As she prepared to suspend operations at her facto- organizations in Afghanistan helped Atmar overcome around the world. Atmar struck a deal to sell her prod- ry, she told AFP the virus was “the biggest challenge” some early challenges, with the US Agency for received, allegedly from male competitors. ucts in the US and Europe, but now, with the factory set she had ever faced. “Even while dealing with security International Development (USAID) giving her a “It’s not easy to do this. It needs courage,” she said. to run out of raw material, that seems all but impossible. risks, we were still able to do business. Now I have no $100,000 loan to purchase equipment from China. She When she first visited the recycling factory-located in a “We can’t even buy the chemicals we need anymore option but to throw my hands up,” the 35-year-old said. also ploughed her savings into the business, but more conservative, run-down Kabul neighborhood-five years because they are not available in Kabul and the bor- Her plight highlights the global nature of the pan- difficulties lay in wait. ago, she didn’t see a single woman on the streets. Today ders are closed so we can’t import it easily from demic which has disrupted lives across the world, pos- A lack of qualified technicians meant Atmar had to her company is 30 percent female with women working Pakistan,” she said. ing a huge challenge even to businesses used to work- hire specialists from China and Pakistan to help run the on the factory floor, in marketing, and as paid interns. Now, the factory will likely be shut for several weeks ing under sharp constraints. complex machines that wash, pulp, dry and transform “I want to hire more women... because I can under- at least, she said. With the fate of her 70 employees A rare female face in Afghanistan’s male-dominated cardboard and paper waste into loo roll. stand their problems, the difficulties they suffer”, she hanging in the balance, she said she was desperately business world, Atmar is well-versed in the art of finding “Electricity is always a nightmare,” she says, refer- said. Mother to a four-year-old boy, Atmar says Afghan hoping for a miracle to resume production as soon as creative solutions to seemingly intractable problems. ring to hours-long blackouts that prevented the factory women are forced to make difficult trade-offs in pursuit possible. “I know that behind every successful woman is When the government imposed the lockdown to stop from functioning at full capacity, even before the lock- of their dreams. a story with many ups and downs,” she said. “It is not the spread of infections last month, she promptly down. And then there were the “scary threats” she “The social mentality here will not allow any woman easy to keep going but we will reopen again.” — AFP 10 Established 1961 Business Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Japan boosts stimulus to $1.1tn as virus threatens deeper recession Extra budget revised up to 25.7tn yen from 16.8tn yen

TOKYO: Japan is boosting its new economic stimulus outs include the rich and the people whose incomes package to expand cash payouts to its citizen as the are not suffering, so savings will also rise,” said coronavirus fallout threatens to push the world’s third- Ryutaro Kono, chef economist at BNP Paribas largest economy deeper into recession. Securities. “Even considering more people will suffer Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled the new stimu- an economic pain this time than during the 2009 finan- lus less than two weeks after his cabinet approved an cial crisis, the proportion of the payouts that will be earlier plan to spend 108.2 trillion yen ($1 trillion), spent is estimated at about 40%. As such, it would which had detailed payouts of 300,000 yen to house- push up GDP only by 0.3 percentage points.” holds with sharp drops in incomes hit by the outbreak. The upsized package will total 117.1 trillion yen Abe has caved into pressure from within his own ruling ($1.086 trillion), with fiscal measures making up less bloc to boost the help with a payment of 100,000 yen than half of it, a draft reviewed by Reuters showed. Some 25.7 trillion yen will be funded by an extra budget for the fiscal year from April 1, compared with an initial extra budget worth 16.8 trillion yen. Desperate steps Monetary, fiscal policy mix as recession While the government boosts fiscal stimulus, the deepens Bank of Japan has also joined other central banks to roll out stimulus to stave off the risk of global reces- sion. The BOJ eased monetary policy last month by pledging to boost risky asset purchases and create a TOKYO: Commuters walk past closed shops in an underground shopping mall in Tokyo new loan scheme to pump more money into firms hit railway station.— AFP by slumping sales. The central bank will discuss further for every citizen instead of 300,000 yen for limited steps to ease corporate funding strains at this month’s households, analysts say, even as the new amount rate review as the impact hits profits. The extra borrowing will add to the industrial cized by some over his handling of the pandemic, apol- triples the cost to 12 trillion yen from what the govern- The government now plans to issue extra bonds world’s heaviest public debt burden, which is more than ogised for confusion over a plan to start distributing ment had originally planned. worth 25.6914 trillion yen to fund the supplementary twice the size of Japan’s $5 trillion economy. It is rare coronavirus relief payments next month. Expansion of the scheme may support private con- budget, the draft showed. Of the extra bond issuance, for the government to compile an extra budget at the Abe’s cabinet is expected to endorse the stimulus sumption that accounts for more than half of the econ- some 23.3624 trillion yen will be deficit-covering bonds start of a new fiscal year, and it is even rarer to revise a spending plan as early as yesterday. More than 200 omy, some analysts said, while others believe most of and the reminder will be used to finance infrastructure budget draft that has been approved by the cabinet people have died from the virus in Japan, which has the payout would end up in savings rather than spend- spending, bringing the amount of market issuance to after coordinating closely with the ruling coalition. reported over 11,000 infections, of which more than a ing to shore up the economy. “Recipients of the pay- the upper range of 152 trillion-153 trillion yen. Last week, the prime minister, who has been criti- quarter are in Tokyo. — Reuters Crops rot as Italian Abu Dhabi borrows farmers hit by $7bn as low virus, drought oil price bites FASANO, Italy: Floriana Fanizza gazes desolately at ABU DHABI: The emirate of Abu Dhabi said on Sunday her celery crop, lost to the coronavirus because it it had sold $7 billion of bonds in the third major sale this could not be harvested. Italian farmers are being month by Gulf sovereigns seeking to counter slumping oil brought to their knees by a six-week lockdown aimed prices. OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia last week raised $7 at stopping a deadly epidemic in its tracks. They are billion in a bond sale, while gas-rich Qatar sold bonds also suffering a drought caused by the driest spring in worth $10 billion two weeks ago. more than half a century. Abu Dhabi, which has the biggest sovereign wealth Border blocks, restaurant closures and a lack of fund in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that its seasonal workers mean nearly four out of 10 business- offering was oversubscribed by more than six times. The es in the fruit and vegetable sector are struggling, transaction contained three tranches-a $2 billion five-year according to Italy’s biggest agricultural union A man wearing a face mask works in the vineyards to prepare the 2020 harvest as the tranche, a $2 billion 10-year segment, and a third tranche spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Langhe-Roero area, Cuneo, Coldiretti. On the Fanizza family farm in Fasano, a town of $3 billion maturing after 30 years-the Abu Dhabi Italy on Sunday. — AFP near the Puglia coast in southern Italy, some pickers, department of finance said in a statement. fearful for their health, stayed at home as the country The richest of seven sheikhdoms that make up the went into shutdown at the start of March. note. And others will soon begin, such as cherries, part of their meager wages. The proposal, approved United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi sits on the bulk of the That meant there were not enough hands to harvest apricots and plums, it said. by Coldiretti, was slammed by the far-right. federation’s oil wealth. Saudi Arabia’s finance ministry said the celery and turnip crops, which were ruined. The The production crisis could impact food avail- its international bond issuance attracted bids worth $54 clock is now ticking on seeding vegetables for har- ability. Italy’s agricultural sector is the third biggest Driest spring in 60 years billion, more than seven times the value of its offering. vesting this summer. in Europe in terms of overall value-it was worth The virus is not the farmers’ only problem. Italy is Qatar’s finance ministry said its own sale was oversub- “To sow properly, we need seven or eight people,” 56.6 billion euros ($61.5 billion) in 2019 — after also experiencing its driest spring in the last 60 years. scribed by more than four times. 41-year-old Fanizza says. France (75.4 billion euros) and Germany (57 billion It has seen just over half its usual rainfall since the The Kuwaiti government has sent legislation to parlia- “We hope we’ll be able to find them, otherwise we euros). With Romanians alone accounting for beginning of the year, creating a water shortage the ment seeking to borrow $65 billion over the next 10 years. will have to reduce production.” Some 350,000 for- 110,000 of the country’s 350,000 foreign seasonal size of Lake Como-the third largest lake in Italy, The six GCC member states, which also include Bahrain eigners are usually employed seasonally in Italy’s agri- workers, Rome is in talks with Bucharest over according to weather experts. “It hasn’t rained for a and Oman, depend heavily on oil income for between 65 culture sector. The coronavirus crisis means this year “green corridors” to ease movement between the long time and the land is arid, especially for wheat,” percent and 90 percent of public revenues. Global oil there is a shortage of between 250,000 and 270,000, two countries. farmer Fanizza says. “The situation is critical, we need prices have slumped this year due to population lock- according to the farming ministry. Minister of Agriculture Teresa Bellanova has also to irrigate our fields”. downs to forestall the spread of coronavirus and a price called for mass regularization of undocumented The government has set up a 100 million euro fund war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. An agreement by Urgent action needed migrants in Italy in order to get the economy mov- to support agricultural businesses. OPEC and its allies, including Russia, to cut output by a “Something must be done urgently, as the har- ing again. Many are currently living in shanty towns Rome has also forked over 50 million euros to buy record 9.7 million barrels per day last week failed to vests of strawberries, asparagus, artichokes and and are exploited by the mafia and an illegal labor food and distribute it to Italy’s poorest, a three- revive prices. According to the International Monetary greenhouse fruits (such as melons, tomatoes and system known as “caporalato”, where intermedi- pronged approach aimed at helping the hungry, cut- Fund, the combined economies of GCC states are forecast peppers) are already underway,” Coldiretti said in a aries who bring workers to farmers take a large ting waste and preventing price drops. — AFP to shrink by 2.7 percent this year. —AFP

Company officials are now thinking through ways to Dubai’s largest Poor may lose help provide clients with electricity to meet their basic needs, such as offering five hours per day free and charg- bank profit ing only for use on top of that. Middle East clean electricity For now, of the places it operates, only Rwanda has imposed a strict lockdown. BBOXX is running some of its slides over virus lifeline soon call centres remotely but it will be unable to ramp up a tourism fair in new gas-based clean cooking service in Kigali this year as DUBAI: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest bank, yester- BARCELONA: Companies that provide clean off-grid planned, Hamayun said. The firm has not yet had to lay off day reported a 24 percent slide in first quarter net Dubai cancelled electricity to the poor in developing nations are searching staff based in Africa, he added, but cuts at its UK head- profits after making huge provisions for risks resulting for ways to stay afloat - and keep life-saving power on - quarters were unavoidable as new product development DUBAI: Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market, one of the from the impact of coronavirus. The bank posted $567 through the coronavirus pandemic, as the economic fall- and innovation were put on hold. As a relatively large Middle East’s biggest travel and tourism fairs, has million (2.1 billion dirhams) in net profit for the three out from the crisis empties customers’ pockets. The nas- player in an emerging sector, BBOXX is well-capitalized, been cancelled this year due to the new coron- months to March compared to $747 million in the cent industry fears being starved of new capital as Hamayun said, but it would need to spend quite a bit of avirus outbreak, organizers said on Sunday. The same period in 2019, the bank said in a statement. “Net investors shun risk amid an expected recession - a crunch that money on running its operations instead of growing, exhibition was in March rescheduled to June 28 to profit declined 24 percent year on year due to higher that could force weak firms out of business and scupper as raising cash from new sources was impossible in July 1 at Dubai’s World Trade Centre from its origi- impairment charges,” said Emirates NBD, the second- progress on a global goal to provide modern energy to today’s market. The SEforALL survey found cash posi- nal dates of April 19 to 22. “After consultation with largest lender in the United Arab Emirates. everyone by 2030. In a survey by international organiza- tions were tight across the industry, with about 70 per- our key stakeholders and after listening to our The bank put aside $697 million for risks “in recog- tion Sustainable Energy for All, 80 businesses running cent of off-grid companies having only enough available industry, ultimately it became apparent that the nition of a potential deterioration in credit quality in mini-grids and selling solar home systems in Africa and to cover operating expenses for two months or less. “If the best course of action, and with everyone’s best subsequent quarters related to the coronavirus pan- Asia said they expected to lose on average 27 percent-40 money environment doesn’t loosen up... unfortunately I interests in mind, is to postpone the event to 2021,” demic,” it said. “During these uncertain times, we have percent of their revenues in the coming months due to think the progress the sector has made in the last year or organizers said on the event’s website. — Reuters aimed to ensure that we continue to provide cus- COVID-19 impacts. two or three could be wiped out really quickly,” said tomers with uninterrupted banking,” CEO Shayne “We could be in the situation in six months’ time where Hamayun. Companies that sell solar home systems and Nelson said. “Despite higher provisions in the first we have no off-grid companies to be talking about,” said operate small-scale grids are seen as vital in getting elec- quarter of 2020, the Bank delivered a good set of SEforALL CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi. “We cannot start tricity to the 840 million people still living without it, the results... whilst maintaining healthy capital, liquidity India airlines from ground zero again... we cannot let that happen,” she vast majority in rural parts of sub-Saharan Africa and and credit quality ratios.” told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. South Asia. The provisions made by the bank are 350 percent not to take Many such companies, operating in Africa and Asia, more than the corresponding quarter last year. The rely on small daily or weekly payments from poor con- COVID-19 or hunger? bank’s net interest and non-interest incomes increased bookings now sumers who use mobile money on their phones to buy Ogunbiyi, also a special representative of the UN sec- in the first quarter by 45 percent and 48 percent solar power from mini-grids or cover instalments on loans retary-general, said lockdowns to curb the spread of the respectively. The assets of Emirates NBD, which last NEW DELHI: India’s aviation regulator has told airlines for home solar systems. But economists are warning that new coronavirus have “really shown us what happens year acquired Turkish lender DenizBank, rose a mod- not to take bookings as the government has not yet shutdowns to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus when we don’t have electricity”. est one percent to $188.5 billion. decided when to recommence flights after a lockdown pose a major threat to the livelihoods of street vendors, In Nigeria, her own country, there are about 100 mil- UAE’s central bank said on April 5 that it had dou- scheduled to end on May 3. The Directorate General of farm labourers, construction workers and others with lion people who would struggle to comply with restric- bled to $70 billion a stimulus package aimed at sup- Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued the notification after some insecure employment. tions on movement because they have no electric power, porting the economy and domestic banks in the face of Indian airlines started taking bookings for May 4 Job losses could put regular payments for electricity or meaning they cannot store food in fridges and must shop coronavirus. Most of the measures focused on easing onwards. cooking gas out of reach, said Mansoor Hamayun, CEO of frequently. “If they stay at home, they will starve and they financial and liquidity requirements for banks to free Indigo, the country’s largest airline, and Vistara, BBOXX, which provides solar power to more than 1 mil- will die,” she said, warning the COVID-19 pandemic could up cash for lending. The regulator’s measures also owned by Singapore Airlines and Tata Group, had said lion people. lead to another crisis in some poor countries: hunger. allowed banks to defer clients’ repayments of loans earlier they would begin operations in a phased manner “We don’t want to switch off customers that suddenly Since the outbreak began hitting Africa, Ogunbiyi has until the end of 2020. UAE has introduced strict meas- from May 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended have a week or one month of lack of income,” said been giving governments practical advice such as not hik- ures to combat the disease including imposing a lock- the lockdown across India to May 3, from April 14, as the Hamayun, whose business operates off-grid solar systems ing the price of cooking gas and ensuring off-grid power down on Dubai, halting travel and closing shopping number of coronavirus cases spiked, but permitted some in 12 countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic firms are classed as essential services so they can send malls and entertainment venues. —AFP sectors to partially open up after April 20.— Reuters Republic of Congo and Togo. out their technicians.—Reuters Established 1961 11 Business Tuesday, April 21, 2020

KAMCO Oil Market Monthly Report Oil price declines on expectations of extended demand slowdown IEA says oil demand expected to fall by 20 mb/d during Q2

KUWAIT: Brent crude spot prices reached the lowest year led by travel restrictions as well as lockdown of Bloomberg, terminal operators in Fujairah are turning ecommerce operations. Ports and air cargo operations since June-1999 at the end of March-2020 led by multiple economies for consecutive weeks. down request from traders and refiners to store crude are also set to start, according to government plans. falling oil demand and the failed OPEC+ agreement at OPEC crude monthly average witnessed one of the and refined products. the start of Mar-2020. However, prices started recov- steepest declines during March-2020 with a fall of World oil supply ering after talks of a production cut agreement resur- 38.9 percent to average at $33.91/b. Kuwait crude World oil demand Global liquids production increased by 0.62 mb/d faced during the start of April-2020. Finally, after a grade average also declined but a slightly smaller pace Global oil demand growth estimates for 2019 was m-o-m during March-2020, according to preliminary marathon discussion between global oil producers, the of 37.9 percent to average at $35.14/b. The average of kept unchanged at a 0.83 mb/d with demand expected data, and averaged at 99.86 mb/d. The increase came OPEC+ announced a production cut of 9.7 mb/d on Brent crude spot prices saw the biggest monthly to have averaged at 99.67 mb/d. For 2020, the fore- on the back of higher OPEC output after producers 12-April-2020 with further curbs of around 5 mb/d decline of 42.8 percent to average at $31.7/b during cast witnessed a steep revision owing to the ongoing opened their taps post a failed OPEC+ meeting at the from other global producers. Most importantly, the US, March-2020. decline in economic activity globally led by the Covid- start of March-2020. Non-OPEC liquids production Canada and Brazil, although did not promise on a spe- The consensus estimates for crude prices for the 19 pandemic. Oil demand is now expected to decline (including OPEC NGLs) declined by 0.20 mb/d and cific level of production cuts, said their curbs would year underwent a severe downgrade during the past by 6.8 mb/d in 2020 and average at 92.82 mb/d during averaged at 71.25 mb/d led by decline in output from amount to around 3.7 mb/d due to lower prices. few weeks. EIA expects Brent to average at $33/b in the year. According to OPEC, demand is expected to OECD Americas, Norway, Brazil and Kazakhstan. Moreover, in an interview with FT, Saudi Arabia’s 2020, a steep revision from last month’s estimate of contract by 12 mb/d during Q2-2020 after falling by OPEC produced at an average rate of 28.61 mb/d, an Energy Minister alluded to a price range of $35-40/b $43/b. The median estimate for Brent crude, according around 20 mb/d during April-2020. The pandemic has increase of 0.8 mb/d pushing OPEC’s share of total in the near-term would result in curbs reaching as high to Bloomberg consensus estimate, was at $42/b for affected demand in the transportation and industrial global production by 60 bps to 28.7 percent in March- as 20 mb/d after price-led decline forces producers to 2020 gradually increasing to $51.2/b in 2021. fuels segments in China and has spread on a global 2020. Non-OPEC oil supply growth estimates for 2019 lower output in the coming months. was revised lower by 0.01 mb/d with supply growth The record curbs came after global demand for now expected to have reached 1.98 mb/d and average crude oil plunged almost 30 percent due to the Covid- at 64.97 mb/d during the year. For 2020, non-OPEC oil 19 outbreak. The latest monthly crude import figures supply is expected to see a contraction of 1.50 mb/d to from China showed a m-o-m decline of 7.5 percent or average at 63.47 mb/d led by decline in supply from almost 0.8 mb/d to reach 9.68 mb/d, the lowest Russia and Kazakhstan as per the renewed OPEC+ imports since July-2019. In a recent interview, the chief agreement followed by price led decline in supply from of IEA said oil demand is expected to fall by 20 mb/d the US, Canada and a number of other oil producers. especially during the second quarter. Meanwhile, a Oil supply estimates for the OECD region was revised statement from Rystad Energy said that oil demand for lower by 1.22 mb/d and grow marginally by 0.04 mb/d the year could decline by 4.9 percent or 4.9 mb/d to to average at 29.98 mb/d with growth in supply reach 95 mb/d as compared to 99 mb/d in 2019. The expected to come only from Norway, Brazil, Guyana demand for jet fuel is expected to decline by almost 20 and Australia. Supply coming from the OECD Americas percent in 2020 to reach 5.8 mb/d, according to region was revised lower by 1.23 mb/d with supply Rystad Energy. The report said that demand is expect- from the US revised down by 1.05 mb/d led by a ed to decline by 27 mb/d in April-2020 of which 5 decline in active oil rigs in most shale patch, including mb/d would come from China, Japan and India. the promising Permian Basin. In its most recent Short-Term Energy Outlook, the EIA estimated global petroleum and liquid fuels con- OPEC oil production & spare capacity sumption to average at 94.4 mb/d in Q1-2020, a y-o-y A failed discussion over the extension of produc- decline of 5.6 mb/d. For the full year 2020, the EIA tion cuts resulted in an increase in production by expects global demand will slide by 5.2 mb/d to reach OPEC countries towards the second half of March- 95.5 mb/d vs. 100.7 mb/d in 2019 and then gradually 2020. OPEC production averaged at 28.1 mb/d, rise by 6.4 mb/d in 2021. The IEA, on the other hand, according to Bloomberg data, registering a m-o-m forecasted an even steeper demand destruction of 9.3 growth of 150 tb/d in Mar-2020. Based on OPEC sec- mb/d for 2020 said that oil demand is headed for the ondary sources, the production increase was much biggest annual collapse in the history of oil market. larger at 0.8 mb/d to an average rate of 28.61 mb/d. The agency said that demand in Q2-2020 is expected Both the data sources showed higher production in to decline by 23.1 mb/d y-o-y and gradually rise by Saudi Arabia. According to Bloomberg data, the the end of the year to a decline of around 2.7 mb/d in Kingdom increased production by 0.3 mb/d to a little December-2020. On the supply side, expectations over 10 mb/d, the highest production rate since more show that crude supply growth would continue to out- than a year. On the other hand, according to OPEC pace demand growth in 2020 however the decline in secondary sources, both Saudi Arabia and UAE shale patch would determine the extent of oil glut dur- increased production by 0.4 mb/d each during ing the year. The IEA forecasted a full year 2020 March-2020 whereas Venezuela, Iran and Iraq decline of 2.3 mb/d reflecting the impact of OPEC+ Projections on oil prices and demand continues to scale. Demand growth for the OECD region was showed declines totaling 170 tb/d. Oil production in production cuts on global oil supply. Meanwhile, the change as new information is announced especially revised lower by 3.7 mb/d to a decline of 4.0 mb/d in Libya, which had recently reached over 1 mb/d, EIA said crude production in the US is estimated to related to Covid-19 impact. The lowering of oil 2020 reflecting the impact of Covid-19 in OECD dropped to 100 tb/d in March-2020 and further down decline for the first time since 2016 by around 0.5 demand expectations by OPEC and other agencies Europe, OECD Asia Pacific and the steep decline in to 81 tb/d in Apr-2020 due to blockades and forced mb/d to average at 11.8 mb/d in 2020. As a result, the affected prices but a positive indication came from gasoline usage in the US. The most recent demand restrictions. EIA said that US would return to be a net importer of Europe and China that reported relaxing of certain data for the US showed sluggish demand from the The renewed agreement reached between 23 pro- crude in Q3-2020. norms related to Covid-19 and opening up of econom- road transportation and the industrial fuels segment ducers of the OPEC+ group envisaged a production ic activity, thereby offsetting some of the declines. during Q1-2020 which is expected to spill over to 2H- cut of around 9.7 mb/d. The cut would be for two Oil prices Also, drilling activity in the US has declined by more 2020. Meanwhile, in the OECD Europe region, demand month, May and June-2020 after which the cuts would Oil prices plunged almost 80 percent since the start than a third over the last five weeks as oil explorers declined by 0.71 mb/d during January-2020, the be 7.7 mb/d until December-2020. Beyond that the of the year at the end of March-2020 as global oil grapple with the global glut. A number of companies largest monthly decrease in eight years during a month cuts would be 5.8 mb/d for the sixteen months until demand took a severe hit due to the Covid-19 pan- have announced project cancellations and drastic cost when the full impact of Covid-19 was not ascertained. April-2022. However, based on the most recent data, demic. Brent crude spot reached $14.85/b on 31- cutting measures that is expected to result in a signifi- New car registrations also showed a decline during the agreed upon cuts would be more than 12 mb/d by March-2020, the lowest in almost 21 years, whereas cant decline in shale production in the US. February-2020 with strong declines in the region’s the group. With prices continuing to decline with no OPEC crude declined to $16.85/b on 1-April-2020. Meanwhile, there were rising concerns among oil largest auto markets, including Germany, France, Italy signs of demand resurgence, the production cuts out- Brent oil futures traded 22.74 at the end of March- producers about crude storage capacity due to the and UK. Meanwhile, the non-OECD region is expected side of the OPEC+ group could be much higher due to 2020 and recovered to $34.11/b on talks of production steep decline in consumption. According to a to see a demand contraction of 2.9 mb/d reflecting the high cost of production, project cancellations as cuts. The announcement to cut production did support Bloomberg report, storage constraints in Mexico is steep decline in oil requirements especially in China well as a steep decline in investment in new oil wells oil prices but prices soon declined after estimates sug- forcing Pemex to leave its fuel purchases in ships off and Other Asia regions. announced by a number of global oil E&P companies. gested that the cuts will be inadequate as compared to the coast of Mexico with around 3 million barrels of Oil demand in India, worlds third-biggest market Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced that it would the severe decline in demand expected during the refined products sitting in tankers off of the coast of for crude, has taken a big hit due to the shut downs slash exports to Asia by around 2 mb/d from May- year. Prices were also hit following the weekly EIA Mexico resulting in rising cost of demurrage for the that was extended until the first week of May-2020. 2020 and provide around 4 mb/d to its Asian buyers, report on oil inventory that showed crude supplies ris- shippers. Key demand centers like the Asian market According to provisional sales data from three state- in line with its commitment to the renewed OPEC+ ing by 19.2 million barrels during the week ended 10- and the European markets have remained in shut run fuel retailers in India, demand for diesel and gaso- deal. The Kingdom has said that it would provide its April-2020. This was the 12th consecutive week of rise downs since weeks and there are reports that buyers, line declined by more than 60 percent during the first buyers with around 8.5 mb/d of oil during May-2020. in supplies. especially in Asia, don’t want cargoes because of low half of April-2020. The two products account for more The Kingdom’s energy minister as well as Russia have The EIA expects global crude liquid fuels invento- demand and also due to the freight charges on these than half of India’s fuel consumption. Demand is signaled that the two producers are ready to cut their ries to rise by an average 3.9 mb/d in 2020 as com- shipments. The storage crunch situation was similar in expected to see some uptake after relaxations being oil production even further if needed when the OPEC+ pared to 0.2 mb/d decline in 2019. The inventory build the Middle East region with its main oil trading hub planned from this week for some industries and the meets again in June-2020 depending on the trends in is expected to be the highest during the first half of the running out of storage capacities. According to farming sector to resume operations as well as for oil demand at the time of the meeting.

answer, they can go ahead. The flood of notifications role, has taken out newspaper adverts to plead for a Japan trade surplus Italy firms shake by Italian companies underscores the desperation of chance to reopen. corporations to restart production. This is especially true in Italy where nearly 4 million companies employ- Masks and one-way paths dives 99% in March lockdown using ing fewer than 10 people make up the fabric of the One company that has gone ahead is Gasparini economy. Italy’s experience also highlights the chal- S.p.A., a maker of metal processing machines in the as virus hits exports shortcut in law lenge for governments across developed countries to northern region of Veneto where more than 14,600 oversee shutdowns that are crippling their economies. people have tested positive for the virus. TOKYO: Japan’s trade surplus dived 99 percent in ROME/MILAN: Weeks into Italy’s coronavirus lock- The government will carry out inspections to make Gasparini makes machines used to manufacture March from a year earlier as coronavirus woes hit down, thousands of Italian entrepreneurs have been sure companies are not cheating the system, a products from industrial shelving to components for exports to its major trading partners, official data given a bureaucratic shortcut to market. The govern- spokesperson for the interior ministry told Reuters. Big electricity transmission and metal posts for vineyards. showed yesterday. The March surplus came in at 4.9 bil- ment last week extended non-essential business clo- swathes of Italy’s economy are unable to get back to It had to halt production for two weeks. But the com- lion yen ($45.5 million), less than one percent of the sures to May 3. But more than 100,000 mainly small- work. Almost half of the country’s businesses from pany says some of its customers, which make power year-before figure of 517 billion yen, according to the and medium-sized companies have applied to keep fashion to autos generating 1.3 trillion euros ($1.41 tril- generation and distribution systems, are in “essential” finance ministry. going or partially reopen. In principle, a key hurdle for lion) in annual turnover remain paralyzed - the fashion supply chains. As a result, it has found a way back to “Exports to the United States and Europe as well as companies to do business should be that they can industry, for instance, unable to claim an “essential” work. — Reuters to China fell as the global spread of virus infections hit prove they are part of a supply chain to businesses demand,” said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at that are deemed “essential” in a government decree, Norinchukin Research Institute. “I’d say this is only the such as food, energy or pharmaceutical companies. beginning,” he told AFP, predicting exports would come But the government, facing a backlog of applica- under further pressure. tions, has clarified Italy’s lockdown laws to say no Shipments of automobiles and auto parts fell, while companies need to wait for government approval to go prospects are gloomy for semiconductors even though ahead. More than 105,000 firms have applied to be they managed to log growth in March, Minami said. considered part of essential supply chains, the interior “Production activities have stalled with sales of durable minister said on Wednesday, in a guideline on its web- goods slack and corporate investment in plants and site to clarify the lockdown rules. equipment halted,” he said, adding it was difficult to find good export demand. Overall exports fell 11.7 percent, a Of those, just over 2,000 have been turned down drop for the 16th consecutive month, with US-bound and told to suspend their business. More than 38,000 shipments tumbling 16.5 percent and shipments to are being investigated and the rest are waiting to be China falling 8.7 percent. Exports to the European looked at. The ministry said on Wednesday businesses Union fell 11.1 percent. “Exports fell sharply in March that have previously submitted such requests can now and are set to plummet this quarter as economic activity “benefit from an immediate start” to their business. So in most of Japan’s major trading partners has collapsed,” unless companies have been told they are not critical, said Tom Learmouth, Japan economist at Capital all they need to do is to inform their local authority A worker wears a protective face mask in a factory of roll-forming machine maker Economics.—AFP that they plan to reopen. Then, without waiting for an Gasparini, in Mirano.— Reuters 12 Established 1961 Health & Science Tuesday, April 21, 2020 COVID-19 a ‘test run’ for greener lifestyles?

LONDON: Working from home and Sarah Allan, the head of engagement other measures to help stem the spread at Involve UK, a charity helping run the of the coronavirus outbreak in Britain assembly, said some members of the show how quickly the country could group had asked to discuss coronavirus change its ways to address climate during this weekend’s event and reflect change too, participants in the Climate on “how it makes them feel about what Assembly UK said on Sunday. they’ve heard”. “With coronavirus, (the government) Ibrahim Wali, 42, a physician based in has had to act because they had no Surrey, said he had been conducting choice in the matter. With climate COVID-19 assessments via telephone change, they need to act in the same and video-link since the outbreak began way,” said Marc Robson, 46, a British and realized “it’s doable”. Gas installer and one of the 110 members “People could stay home more, work of the citizens’ assembly. As with the remotely. Sometimes in life you just need response to the COVID-19 respiratory a challenge to change the way you live disease, “people will die if we don’t do and operate,” he said. What he had it”, the Newcastle resident warned in a learned more generally at the assembly video interview. sessions also had led him to install LED “And we all need to buy into this as lightbulbs at home, look at switching to a well. It needs to be explained to the pub- hybrid or electric car and reconsider lic that if we don’t change what we’re how often he eats meat, which has a doing, it’s going to cost us, big time.” The large carbon footprint. assembly, chosen to reflect Britain’s “If you can do that on an individual diverse geographic and demographic level, that’s where it starts. Then it’s makeup, as well as different viewpoints friends, family, society,” he said in a on climate change, has met once a month video interview. Reducing emissions “is in Birmingham since January to hear from not just something for the government to experts on climate science and policy. do. I thought in the past the government It is expected to submit over the sum- would sort it all out with laws and legis- mer its recommendations to the govern- lation. But it makes a huge difference if ment on how Britain should meet a legal- everyone looks at themselves and makes ly binding goal to cut its climate-heating a change,” he added. LONDON: Participants in the Climate Assembly UK said on Sunday that working from home and other measures to help stem the spread emissions to net zero by 2050. of the coronavirus outbreak in Britain show how quickly the country could change its ways to address climate change too. — Reuters But with coronavirus restrictions now Knowledge for all in place on public gatherings, the assem- Ellie, a 21-year-old assembly member mise,” she said. “We can’t rely on tech and “If we’re going to make genuine gatherings. bly this weekend was held for the first and new university graduate from North someone else doing it for us. It has to be progress, there needs to be a real aware- “There’s a real kind of segregation - time online - a change some assembly London, who did not want her surname to all of us working together”. ness of what the options are, the impact between people who know a lot about members saw as a “test run” for potential be used, said she had started taking part The assembly’s meetings had given her they will have on different groups and climate change and people who don’t - climate-smart shifts they had been dis- in the gatherings confident “technology a much better understanding not just of what’s actually financially viable,” she and that’s creating problems and ten- cussing. “This has opened up my mind will solve all the problems”. “I’ve been the range of options available to deal with said. The assembly participants said they sions,” Ellie said. “If we can educate that we can make these changes, like made aware of how actually it’s accept- global warming, she said, but how they wished everyone in Britain could have everyone to the same level, we can cre- working at home,” Robson told the ance there’s going to be a change in our might affect people living very different access to the information they had ate a real consensus for progress,” she Thomson Reuters Foundation. lifestyles and we will have to compro- lives from hers, including in rural areas. received from experts speaking at the added. — Reuters 13

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

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Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Lifestyle Features

ith Hollywood A-listers self-quarantined in ‘Waiting, waiting’ Wtheir sprawling mansions due to the novel Of course, the industry’s controversial reputation coronavirus, Los Angeles’ notorious means sympathy for paparazzi is likely to be limited. paparazzi have almost nobody to shoot — despite “Some outside my house right now. Waiting, waiting soaring demand for celebrity pictures. The trendy for a walk that will never happen,” wrote model nightclubs, restaurants and movie sets which are typ- Chrissy Teigen this week in a tweet that drew ically surrounded by photographers at all hours have 350,000 “likes.” Photographer Mark Karloff, speak- been closed since California went into pandemic ing on a recent episode of his “Paparazzi Podcast,” lockdown a month ago. This has meant images of admitted that “obviously the general public’s gonna gossip magazine staples such as Ben Affleck walking give us a big boohoo about, you know, paparazzi his dogs, or Cameron Diaz popping out for groceries, struggling.” “But we are family guys — we have kids, are a hot commodity, with dozens of paparazzi vying for the same photos. Every photo is with sunglasses and a mask on at this point... those are the only pictures you’re going to get,” said Randy Bauer, founder of celebrity photo agency Bauer-Griffin. “It’s really not a pretty situa- tion,” he added. Bauer estimates that his agency’s photo output dropped almost overnight by 95 per- cent after stay-at-home orders were issued and most A piece of coronavirus COVID-19 themed street art grafitti is pictured in East London on April 19, 2020, during the novel businesses shuttered. His agency, which employs coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people in Britain who have died in hospital from coronavirus has risen by around 20 photographers mainly on a freelance basis, 596 to 16,060 according to daily health ministry figures on Sunday.—AFP went from issuing up to 7,000 celebrity photographs a month to around 500. “That’s if we’re lucky,” he told AFP. “The whole thing has been turned upside down.”

‘Bittersweet’ Paparazzi are just one of countless strands of the Hollywood entertainment industry decimated by the Ben Affleck and new girlfriend Ana de Armas. lockdown. With movie premieres canceled, traditional red-carpet photographers are also out of work. we have family — and we’re human as well,” he said. Ironically, the absence of these glitzy images — used Bauer, who had photographers permanently stationed by newspaper, magazines and television networks outside top celebrity hangouts like Craig’s Restaurant undreds of monkeys have taken over the omic-Con San Diego, one of the world’s largest pop culture gatherings, has been canceled for around the world — has heightened demand for the in West Hollywood, now advises freelancers on streets around India’s presidential palace, lead- C street snaps delivered by paparazzi. Even images of applying for unemployment. For the first time, gig H the first time in its 50-year history due to the ing an animal offensive taking advantage of coronavirus pandemic. The sprawling convention which D-listers who previously wouldn’t have drawn global workers are eligible for benefits due to the coron- deserted streets as the country remains under a interest are being greedily snapped up by showbiz avirus, providing paparazzi with some relief. coronavirus lockdown. With India’s 1.3 billion popula- draws Hollywood A-listers, billion-dollar franchises and 135,000 screaming fans each year had been due to publishers. Still, with celebrity sightings in such short supply, tion and tens of millions of cars conspicuous by their “It’s very bittersweet, because we’ve got the the prospect of a big payday continues to draw many absence, stray domestic animals and wildlife has take place in July. But it became the latest major festival to be scratched due to the global pandemic, after demand, but no supply!” said Bauer. “But you can’t out to the same handful of Hollywood stars’ homes. moved to fill the void, while also suffering from the have it all.” And there is another silver lining for those “It was like the Wild West man,” said Karloff’s pod- pandemic fallout. In the financial capital Mumbai, California Governor Gavin Newsom this week indicat- ed mass gatherings were unlikely to be allowed for still in the paparazzi game. The long-lens nature of cast co-host, who goes by the alias “Jedi.” “I’d drive peacocks have been seen perched on top of parked street shots — often taken from cars — at least past Kate Hudson’s house and see four or five differ- cars, displaying their spectacular trains. months to come. Organizers announced Friday “with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020.” allows for social distancing, in contrast to the massed ent guys there. —AFP In Delhi, troops of monkeys now scamper over the photographers previously breathing down each oth- walls of the Rashtrapati Bhawan presidential com- er’s necks at premieres or outside clubs. pound, past military guards and into the grounds of ministries and other official buildings. “They are stealing a lot more, but not yet threatening humans,” said one officer on duty at the palace entrance. The Rhesus macaque monkeys — who often snatch food Montreux Jazz Festival from shoppers’ bags — have long been a problem in the capital, but there have been reports of some get- ting into office buildings during the lockdown. cancelled amid pandemic Other animals have also been emboldened by the coronavirus restrictions on humans, who are only allowed out for food and essential items. A Himalayan black bear last week wandered into Gangtok, capital of the northeastern state of Sikkim, entering a tele- coms office and injuring an engineer, media reported.

Hungry strays Indian Forest Service officers, meanwhile, have shared videos on social media of elephants trundling past shuttered shops along deserted streets. But the lockdown has also been deadly for some animals. Four horses normally employed for tourist carriage rides near Kolkata’s landmark Victoria Memorial have died from starvation in recent days, animal rights activists said. San Diego Comic-Con’s logo Some 115 horses, which make their living pulling carriages bedecked with flowers and balloons, were They “had hoped to delay this decision in anticipa- Montreux Jazz Festival poster left to fend for themselves after the government tion that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer,” ordered the shutdown, Sushmita Roy, spokeswoman but warnings including Newsom’s comments “made it he iconic Montreux Jazz Festival announced the Jazz Festival in July,” the statement said, pointing out for the Love and Care for Animals group told AFP. clear that it would not be safe to move forward with Tcancellation of this year’s edition due to the pan- that other festivals had also been called off across “They are becoming sick. We fear many more will die plans for this year.” Fans who had already purchased demic, marking the first time since 1967 that the Switzerland. “Public health concerns naturally take in coming days if they do not get food,” she said. The tickets for the four-day extravaganza will be offered show cannot go on. “It is with deep regret that the precedence over all other considerations,” it said. owners of the carriages say they have no money for refunds, or the option of attending in 2021. Comic-Con organizers of the Montreux Jazz Festival must This thus marks the first time in the festival’s 53 years the horses after being ordered off the streets. “We began life as a small gathering of around 100 comic announce that this year’s event, which was set to be of existence that the event has been cancelled. “Until the are finding it difficult to feed our family. How can we book fans in a San Diego hotel basement in 1970. But it held from 3 to 18 July 2020, will not take place,” very end, all of us here in the festival team were still feed our horses?” said one owner, Sunny. India’s has sprawled into a giant launchpad for mainstream organizers said. hoping to share these magical moments with everyone army of stray cows and dogs have also found new Hollywood films and television shows attended by The program — set to include Lionel Richie, who, like us, cannot imagine a summer without the freedom to take over city intersections and forage in movie stars, studio heads and the world’s press. In Brittany Howard, Lenny Kravitz and Black Pumas — Montreux Jazz Festival,” the organizers said Montreux, waste bins, but even those scraps have disappeared scrapping its 2020 edition, Comic-Con follows other “will be partly carried over to next year’s Festival, which takes place in the idyllic Swiss town, on the as restaurants and shops have closed. Aditi Badam of major US events such as the Coachella music festival, which will take place from 2 to 17 July 2021.” The shores of Lake Geneva, has over the past half century the Posh Foundation in Noida, outside Delhi, said Las Vegas Cinema-Con summit, and SXSW media and Swiss government announced on Thursday it would become a magnet for big names and rising stars alike. shelters like his were struggling to feed its animals technology festival in Texas. “The prospect of mass begin gradually easing some protective measures The jazz label has been retained despite a dramatically and other strays during the lockdown. Her foundation gatherings is negligible, at best, until we get to herd against the coronavirus, but stressed most of the expanding repertoire over the years.—AFP has been receiving increasing numbers of calls about immunity, and we get to a vaccine,” Newsom warned at hygiene and physical distancing measures would abandoned dogs and pets, which he said had become a press conference Tuesday. “When you suggest June, remain in place. “As such, it is now impossible for us to a “major issue”. “It getting tougher day by day here,” July, August, it is unlikely.”—AFP consider holding an event on the scale of Montreux Badam told AFP, adding that strays near the office blocks of multinational companies and outsourcing firms in the city were starving as all had closed down.—AFP

livia Munn joked she’s been “homeschooling” her dogs during he 44-year-old actress has chil- O lockdown. The ‘Love Wedding dren Ava, 20 and Deacon, 16, with T Repeat’ actress teased her co-star Sam her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe and Tennessee, seven, with husband Jim Claflin - who is at home with his two Toth and revealed that she had mental young children amid the coronavirus health struggles after welcoming two of pandemic - and insisted she knew what her kids. Speaking on Jameela Jamil’s I he was going through. She told Extra: Weigh podcast, Reese explained: “I def- “I’m at home, and I’m the parent to two Olivia Munn dogs, so I get what he’s going through, I In this photograph stray dogs gather on a deserted road initely had anxiety, my anxiety manifests Reese Witherspoon understand! “We’ve got the alphabet up ver lining. “At least for me, what I’ve during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a as depression so I would get really thought about is right now, no one’s depressed. My brain is like a hamster on on our window too. A lot of homeschool- preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in ing for me and my dogs! “Her comments expecting anyone to get any work done. Kolkata.—AFP photos a wheel and it won’t come off, I’ve been me that when you wean a baby, your Whether it’s turning in a script, or meet- managing it my entire life. hormones go into the toilet. I felt more came as Sam opened up on his own quar- antine experiences in the same interview, ing people for lunch - there’s kind of this “I’ve had three kids. After each child depressed than I’d ever felt in my whole halt on everything. “In a way we’ve all life. It was scary.” and revealed how he has been balancing I had a different experience... One kid I been given this gift to sit home and Reese’s former husband Ryan, 45, his personal and professional lives. had kind of mild postpartum, and one breath without feeling like we’re missing previously spoke out about his own He said: “I’m a dad to two toddlers, kid I had severe postpartum where I out on life or feeling guilty.” had to take pretty heavy medication mental health struggles, explaining: and I am also working still. I feel like Olivia hopes to be able to emerge because I just wasn’t thinking straight at “You know, depression has been a huge quarantine’s been tough but in a very from the tough time “with a different all, and then I had one kid where I had obstacle for me ever since I was a child. good way! I’ve had the opportunity to energy”, and she suggested she could no postpartum at all.” She also revealed As you get older I think it decreases spend some quality time with the kids.” benefit from the time to unwind. She she had a particularly tough time after some, but I’m just innately kind of a sad Meanwhile, Olivia,39, revealed she is giving birth to Ava, because she didn’t person. “I’m empathetic, and I take on grateful for the time to spend at home as explained: “There’s a lot of times when I know what to expect. Reese explained: the feelings of others and transpose production on films and TV shows has get invited to things and I’m just tired or “We don’t understand the kind of hor- myself into the position of others. I see halted during the ongoing health crisis. don’t want to go. I think now I’m able to monal rollercoaster that you go on when it in my daughter [Ava]. “She has it, and She added: “I think that we all ask for the really recalibrate myself and hopefully you stop nursing. No one explained that I wish to hell she didn’t. —Bang showbiz gift of time all the time, and right now, come out the other side with a different In this file photo monkeys climb on a car as they are being to me. “I was 23 years old when I had there’s lots of scary stuff going on in the energy.”—BangShowbiz fed with potatoes by a resident at Ode village.—AFP my first baby and nobody explained to world. I’ve been trying to look at the sil- Established 1961 15 Lifestyle Features Tuesday, April 21, 2020

outh African novelist Deon Meyer wished the aware of global warming, Ebola, the Avian Influenza New inspiration Sdeadly virus wreacking havoc in his 2016 (H5N1) of 1996 and the H1N1 Swine Flu virus of 2009 As he has watched a coronavirus play out in the thriller “Fever” had not turned into an eerily - 2010, I could not help but think that we live in a real world, Meyer felt that most governments had accurate depiction of the coronavirus pandemic rav- world where an apocalypse is a possibility.” Those based their responses on “good scientific advice”. “So aging the world. “I find no pleasure in it,” said the concerns became a source of inspiration in 2012 dur- far, so good,” he told AFP, alluding to US President crime fiction author and screenwriter. “I keep thinking ing a flight back from New York. Donald Trump as one of the “few exceptions”. But the of the sorrow of all those thousands of people who author also feared the consequences of potential have lost loved ones, lost their jobs, and are living in ‘The ideal choice’ months under lockdown. “How long will people be able fear.” “Fever” tells the heart-wrenching story of the “I bought a collection of short stories, and read to consider the greater good as more important than survival of a father and son in a desolated South them on the plane,” Meyer recalled. “One of the sto- the survival of them and their families,” he asked. Africa after a virus wiped out 95 percent of the ries... was post-apocalyptic and got me thinking about Poorer nations, including South Africa, have already world’s population. other possible directions the author could have tak- been battling to keep citizens indoors — most of Upon release, the novel was widely acclaimed as a en.” By the time Meyer touched down in Cape Town, whom live off informal work. post-apocalyptic masterpiece worthy of Cormac the “Fever” storyline had started taking shape in his In “Fever”, that struggle blows up into a full- McCarthy’s “The Road”, for which the American nov- head. Over the next three years, the ex-journalist fledged war between survivors under the watch of a elist received the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. Four years gathered scientific information to feed into his sce- South African novelist Deon Meyer small group of humans that has engineered the virus. later, the parallels between Meyer’s “Fever” and the nario. “I needed to kill off 95 percent of the world Similar conspiration theories are making the rounds of COVID-19 pandemic are chilling: a coronavirus trans- population, but leave all infrastructure intact,” Meyer the mango tree there was a bat, with a different kind of social media today, claiming the pandemic was man- mitted from animals to humans, spreading like wildfire explained. “A virus seemed to be the ideal choice.” corona virus in its blood,” he continued. “One that made. Meyer hoped his novel would not provide fuel across the globe. In a bizarrely premonitory scenario, Hours of consultations with two virology experts could infect other people easily when inhaled, and with for “wacko conspiracy theorists”. He found solace in borders are shut and characters grow increasingly led him to the “best candidate” for the task: a coron- the ability to make them extremely ill.” the fact that such people were unlikely to “read wary of the other as survival instincts kick in. “Fever avirus. “They... gave me full details on how it could When the first cases of coronavirus were detected beyond a few wacko websites”. As South Africa was the culmination of so many different emotions, happen,” said Meyer. The trio’s imaginary scenario in China last December, Meyer admitted going back slipped into its fourth week of lockdown and coron- concerns and a lot of reading,” said Meyer, 61, speak- was fleshed out into the novel’s pages. “A man some- through his notes in shock. “Even most of the devel- avirus continued to spread, Meyer knew what his next ing to AFP by phone, locked-down at his southern where in tropical Africa lay down under a mango tree,” oping countries had extensive plans for such an inci- project would be. “A crime novel,” he said. “Set during Stellenbosch home. “I’ve always loved post-apocalyp- wrote Meyer. “The man’s resistance was low, because dent,” reads another extract of “Fever”. “In theory, the lockdown”.—AFP tic fiction, and read the genre intensely in my 20s and he was HIV-positive and not being treated for it. There these should have worked. But nature paid no heed to 30s,” he explained.”As I became more and more was already one corona virus in the man’s blood.” “In theories, and nor did human fallibility.”

French dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Mathilde, practices at home in Paris Irish dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Isabelle, practices in the street next to Irish dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Isabelle, practices at home in Paris. on the 23rd day of a strict lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the her home in Paris. COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus.—AFP photos

ancers from the Moulin Rouge in Paris, “I work out in the afternoons, ballet bars, told AFP. “I can put out a gym mat there, it gives Dused to strutting their stuff before large, whole body workout” in an effort to stay fit with- me a bit of space. But not enough to dance...” enthusiastic audiences, now have just the out access to a gym or the Moulin Rouge’s Almost every day at 5:00 pm Tutiaux meets up French dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Mathilde, practices in front of the mirror, or sometimes a cat to perform for, as rehearsal space, she said. “Then I go for a walk with friends to exercise together... online. Moulin Rouge cabaret. they combat lockdown stagnation with a strict or a run, depending on what I’ve done before, if Though the repertoire for now excludes exercise regime at home. Alone. Dancers of my workout was strenuous or not that hard,” leaps, spins, or practising “being lifted by the the famed cabaret who usually perform French Male added. The dancers must stay in tip-top guys”. And the dancers have to watch what they cancans twice a day, six days a week, suddenly shape, ready to tackle the physically demanding eat. “The costumes are made to measure, I can- find themselves homebound, along with the cancan as soon as the Moulin Rouge reopens not put on three or four kilos...,” said Tutiaux. rest of France due to the coronavirus outbreak. along with other Paris entertainment venues “And when you have so much free time, it is diffi- “Working out in my small 30 square-meter shuttered to prevent the virus’ spread. Many are cult not to just stick your head in the fridge.” The (apartment) can be a bit tricky,” said Australian in small, Parisian apartments. “For the workouts, Moulin Rouge’s 450 employees, including 90 Courtney Male, 23, who has performed with the (I do) my own routine which sometimes gets dancers, were placed on partial unemployment cabaret in Paris’ touristy Montmartre district tiresome without machines or weights. I find since the nationwide lockdown entered into for over a year. “I try to keep everything as inspiration online with a lot of free classes, yoga, force on March 17.—AFP normal as possible,” said the brunette, in a pilates, ballet,” said Male. Mathilde Tutiaux, 32, black leotard and ponytail, using the fireplace, stretches out on her kitchen counter. “I am fortu- as the highest feature in her apartment, for a nate to have an open kitchen in my small living dance bar. room,” the Moulin Rouge dancer of eight years

Australian dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Courtney, practices at home in Paris.

Irish dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Isabelle, practices in the street next to Australian dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Courtney, practices at home in Irish dancer from the Moulin Rouge, Isabelle, practices in the street next her home. Paris. to her home.

erman gourmets refuse to let a virus cies. “There used to be a lot of Germans who Gkeep them from their favorite French came here to buy bread,” she said. “They ew Yorkers usually clap, bang pots and pans, or simply lives on First Avenue with her husband and two children, said pastries, with one even resorting to a don’t dare come any more because... there are Ncry “thank you” out of their windows every evening at from behind a mask that the everyday tribute to nurses, doc- fishing rod to reel in his baguettes. Residents checks. So what I can do now is bring the 7 pm, honoring the health care workers risking their tors and other health care professionals improves morale. in the German border town of Lauterbach are bread to them... across the barrier.” Hartmut lives on the frontlines of the battle against the coronavirus. “It’s something you look forward to at the end of the day, fond of popping across to neighboring Fey, 52, is one of her happy customers. “It has But the evening’s ritual does vary. Last Thursday, a volunteer instead of watching all the bad news,” she added. Carling in France for their daily croissants. So to do with tradition. We’ve been buying our choir called “Peace of the Heart” led thousands singing “New Her husband Mark, 49, said he hoped America’s economic when the border slammed shut to slow the baguettes and bread here in France for York, New York,” the beloved song made famous by Frank capital had turned a corner, citing the latest death figures spread of the coronavirus, many were bereft decades,” he said. Fey has even published a Sinatra. That classic echoed across neighborhoods for and declining hospital admissions. “I think you are going to at no longer having access to their favorite video on social media showing himself roughly ten minutes, coming out of windows and balconies, see the markets rebound. People will want to be outside. boulangerie. But baker Myriam Jansem- retrieving his baguettes with a fishing rod. “It according to people posting on Facebook and other social They will fight to get a table at restaurants,” he said. Boualit is going the extra mile — or at least, was an idea of mine to create awareness,” he media. “It’s iconic, it’s New York,” said Robert Hornsby, fund- “Hopefully, I am right.” Yet, the ritual will continue for now. the extra few metres to the border — to make said. Fishing tackle is not compulsory, but raising director of “Peace of Heart” about why they picked Although COVID-19 appears to have stabilized in the state sure her German customers can still have with a steady stream of customers at the bar- the song, “and it has a great message about getting out of it.” — after more than 213,000 infections and over 11,500 their daily loaf. rier, it seems Fey is not the only one who is He added: “it is beloved, it is well known, and if you just deaths — governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday he would Hungry customers can telephone ahead hooked. – AFP don’t know the words, you can just repeat the parts you do prolong confinement measures in place across New York with their orders, and Jansem-Boualit will know.” Streamed through the choir’s Facebook page, New City for another month.—AFP meet them at the border crossing in the street Yorkers could sing along or simply play the music out of outside her shop with the fresh baked delica- their windows and from their balconies. Vivian Young, who 16 Established 1961 News Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Recovery from coronavirus may not confer immunity

PARIS: Even as virologists zero in on the virus that causes COVID-19, a very basic question remains unanswered: Do those who recover from the disease have immunity? There is no clear answer to this ques- tion, experts say, even if many have assumed that con- tracting the potentially deadly disease confers immu- nity, at least for a while. “Being immunized means that you have developed an immune response against a virus such that you can repulse it,” explained Eric Vivier, a professor of immunology in the public hospi- tal system in Marseilles. “Our immune systems remem- ber, which normally prevents you from being infected by the same virus later on.” For some viral diseases such a measles, overcoming the sickness confers immunity for life. But for RNA- based viruses such as Sars-Cov-2 - the scientific name for the bug that causes the COVID-19 disease - it takes about three weeks to build up a sufficient quantity of antibodies, and even then they may pro- vide protection for only a few months, Vivier told AFP. At least that is the theory. In reality, the new coron- avirus has thrown up one surprise after another, to the point where virologists and epidemiologists are sure of very little. “We do not have the answers to that - it’s an unknown,” Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s Emergencies Program said in a press conference this week when asked how long a recovered COVID-19 patient would have CAIRO: A picture taken on April 18, 2020 show the Great Pyramids lit up with blue light and reading with a laser projection the message “Stay Home” on the Giza plateau immunity. “We would expect that to be a reasonable outside the Egyptian capital on World Heritage Day. — AFP period of protection, but it is very difficult to say with a new virus - we can only extrapolate from other COVID-19 later tested positive for the virus. Maria Van Kerhove, Technical Lead of the WHO Faced with all these uncertainties, some experts coronaviruses, and even that data is quite limited.” But there are several ways to explain that outcome, Emergencies Program. “That’s something we really have doubts about the wisdom of persuing a “herd For SARS, which killed about 800 people across scientists cautioned. While it is not impossible that need to better understand - what does that antibody immunity” strategy such that the virus - unable to find the world in 2002 and 2003, recovered patients these individuals became infected a second time, there response look like in terms of immunity.” Indeed, a new victims - peters out by itself when a majority of remained protected “for about three years, on aver- is little evidence this is what happened. More likely, host of questions remain. “We are at the stage of ask- the population is immune. “The only real solution for age,” Francois Balloux director of the Genetics said Balloux, is that the virus never completely disap- ing whether someone who has overcome COVID-19 is now is a vaccine,” Archie Clements, a professor at Institute at University College London, told AFP. “One peared in the first place and remains - dormant and really that protected,” said Jean-Francois Delfraissy, Curtin University in Perth Australia, told AFP. At the can certainly get reinfected, but after how much time? asymptomatic - as a “chronic infection”, like herpes. president of France’s official science advisory board. same time, laboratories are developing a slew of anti- We’ll only know retroactively.” As tests for live virus and antibodies have not yet body tests to see what proportion of the population in been perfected, it is also possible that these patients at Immunity passports different countries and regions have been contaminat- False negatives some point tested “false negative” when in fact they For Tangy, an even grimmer reality cannot be ed. Such an approach has been favored in Britain A recent study from China that has not gone had not rid themselves of the pathogen. “That sug- excluded. “It is possible that the antibodies that some- and Finland, while in Germany some experts have through peer review reported on rhesus monkeys that gests that people remain infected for a long time - one develops against the virus could actually increase floated the idea of an “immunity passport” that recovered from Sars-Cov-2 and did not get reinfected several weeks,” Balloux added. “That is not ideal.” the risk of the disease becoming worse,” he said, not- would allow people to go back to work. “It’s too when exposed once again to the virus. “But that Another pre-publication study that looked at 175 ing that the most serious symptoms come later, after premature at this point,” said Saad Omer, a profes- doesn’t really reveal anything,” said Pasteur Institute recovered patients in Shanghai showed different con- the patient had formed antibodies. For the moment, it sor of infectious diseases at the Yale School of researcher Frederic Tangy, noting that the experiment centrations of protective antibodies 10 to 15 days after is also unclear whose antibodies are more potent in Medicine. “We should be able to get clearer data unfolded over only a month. Indeed, several cases from the onset of symptoms. beating back the disease: Someone who nearly died, very quickly - in a couple of months - when there South Korea - one of the first countries hit by the new “But whether that antibody response actually or someone with only light symptoms or even no will be reliable antibody tests with sensitivity and coronavirus - found that patients who recovered from means immunity is a separate question,” commented symptoms at all. And does age make a difference? specificity.” — AFP

“We are used to seeing the holy mosque crowded Coalition head General Pat White feared it Muslims face a with people during the day, night, all the time... I feel Iran-US tensions could spin out of control, writing to US Central pain deep inside.” Command in March with “concerns” that target- In recent weeks, a stunning emptiness has ed groups would respond, putting thousands of Ramadan like... enveloped the sacred Kaaba - a large black cube decrease in Iraq coalition troops in “significant” danger, accord- structure draped in gold-embroidered cloth in the ing to a US military official who saw White’s Continued from Page 1 Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the BAGHDAD: It has been weeks since Iran-backed memo. Non-US coalition members are “nervous” world pray. The white-tiled area around the Kaaba factions in Iraq traded fire with US forces, but the bombing could kill civilians or push Baghdad and Lebanon to the battle zones of Libya, Iraq and is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims. experts warn the rivals could be using the time to to permanently oust foreign troops, diplomats Yemen. Around the souks and streets of Cairo, a Ramadan is considered an auspicious period to per- prepare for an escalation. After the last Katyusha from two coalition countries said. sprawling city of 23 million people that normally never form the year-round umrah pilgrimage, which Saudi rockets slammed into American installations in The plan has been set aside for now as the US sleeps, the coronavirus has been disastrous. “People authorities suspended last month. It is likely the Iraq in March, the United States began planning fights the spread of COVID-19, three Western don’t want to visit shops, they are scared of the dis- larger hajj pilgrimage, set for the end of July, will an unprecedented bombing campaign in Iraq and diplomats said. “But if there’s another attack and ease. It’s the worst year ever,” said Samir El-Khatib, also be cancelled for the first time in modern history new Iran-aligned factions threatened to kill it kills an American, then all of this comes back who runs a stall by the historic Al-Sayeda Zainab after Saudi Arabia urged Muslims to temporarily Western ambassadors. again,” one told AFP. mosque, “Compared with last year, we haven’t even defer preparations. “Even if we haven’t seen rocket attacks, the Washington and Tehran have already edged sold a quarter.” The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Iranians are repositioning themselves for some- dangerously close to outright conflict after the During Ramadan, street traders in the Egyptian Territories Muhammad Hussein has announced similar thing else,” said Phillip Smyth, who researches US killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in capital stack their tables with dates and apricots, prayer restrictions during Ramadan, while also advis- sweet fruits to break the fast, and the city’s walls with Shiite armed factions for the Washington Baghdad in January, prompting Iran to launch ing against the public sighting of the crescent moon, towers of traditional lanterns known as “fawanees”. Institute for Near East Policy. “Meanwhile, US ballistic missiles at US troops in western Iraq. which is used to estimate the start of the holy month. But this year, authorities have imposed a night curfew The restrictions are in line with the recommendations troops in Iraq are hunkered down and taking the Apparently fearing more strikes, the US deployed and banned communal prayers and other activities, so of the World Health Organization, which has urged threat more seriously,” Smyth said. Those troops, Patriot anti-missile batteries and C-RAM rocket not many people see much point in buying the countries to “stop large numbers of people gathering deployed as part of the coalition fighting the defense systems to Iraq to protect its forces, a Islamic State group, have been hit by more than lanterns. Among the few who ventured out was in places associated with Ramadan activities, such as move which US officials acknowledged to AFP Nasser Salah Abdelkader, 59, a manager in the two dozen rocket attacks that have grown gradu- entertainment venues, markets and shops”. could be seen by Iran as provocative. Egyptian stock market. “This year there’s no Ramadan ally deadlier. The restrictions have hit businesses hard, including At the same time, it reduced the coalition’s mood at all,” he said. “I’d usually come to the market, Last month, the Pentagon began drafting plans retailers catering to the typical rush of Ramadan shop- presence, pulling out of half the bases it once and right from the start people were usually playing pers. This year many Muslims have repurposed their for a major escalation against the Iran-backed operated from in Iraq and withdrawing hundreds music, sitting around, almost living in the streets.” Ramadan shopping budgets to stock up on masks, factions -namely the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah - of trainers indefinitely as a precautionary meas- The Egyptian capital’s narrow alleys and down- gloves and other COVID-19 protective gear. “I had blamed for the rockets. “Washington told us ure against COVID-19. As most non-US troops town markets are covered with traditional Ramadan saved up an amount to spend on Ramadan shopping, they’d simultaneously hit 122 targets in Iraq if were trainers, that has left relatively more decorations and brightly colored fawanees. These but I spent it instead on purchasing things needed for more Americans died,” a top Iraqi official said. Americans in the remaining forces. “The coalition decorations also typically adorn restaurants and quarantine and protection against the virus,” said The scale of such bombing could have enormous as we knew it no longer exists,” a Western diplo- cafes, but they are all closed due to the outbreak, Younes, 51, who works at a clothing store in the Syrian consequences. mat from a coalition country told AFP. — AFP lending a more subdued feel to the city as the holy capital Damascus. “This year, no feasts, no visits... I month approaches. Dampening the festivities before feel we are besieged by the virus wherever we go.” they begin, the coronavirus is also complicating Sanctions-stricken Iran last week allowed some fire foreign advisors in government departments another part of Ramadan, a time when both fasting shuttered Tehran businesses to reopen, despite 2 deaths, 80 new and ministries. and charity are seen as obligatory. being one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle Meanwhile, MP Khaled Al-Otaibi yesterday In Algeria, restaurant owners are wondering how East, as many citizens face a bitter choice between called for redrawing Kuwait’s foreign policy with to offer iftar to the needy when their premises are risking infection and economic hardship. Official sta- cases; Hashem... countries that are refusing to take back their closed, while charities in Abu Dhabi that hold iftar for tistics show the disease has killed more than 5,000 nationals who are living illegally in Kuwait. He said low-paid South Asian workers are unsure what to do people and infected over 80,000 in Iran, but the Continued from Page 1 the government should be aware that international with mosques now closed. Mohamed Aslam, an engi- actual figures are thought to be higher. Supreme post-coronavirus relations will change and neer from India who lives in a three-bedroom apart- leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appealed to MP Safa Al-Hashem yesterday called for ending Kuwait’s foreign policy should be part of that ment in downtown Abu Dhabi with 14 others is unem- Iranians to pray at home during Ramadan, while urg- what she described as “expat invasion” of state change, especially with countries that refuse to ployed because of the coronavirus. With his apart- ing them to “not neglect worship, invocation and departments, saying it was time to restructure the take back their nationals. ment building under quarantine after a resident tested humility in our loneliness”. public administration. “There is an internal invasion Kuwait has granted a one-month amnesty in positive, he has been relying on charity for food. Hardliners across the region have rejected some of all state departments by expats,” Hashem said on April for foreign workers who have been living ille- In Senegal, the plan is to continue charity albeit in online suggestions by Muslims that they should be Twitter, demanding that “this requires restructuring gally in the country, and thousands of violators have a limited way. In the beachside capital of Dakar, chari- exempt from fasting this year owing to the pandemic, the composition of the public administration”. accepted the offer. But some countries, mainly ties that characteristically hand out “Ndogou”, insisting that while social distancing was necessary, Hashem’s remarks come amid what appears to be a Egypt and India, appear to be reluctant to take baguettes slathered with chocolate spread, cakes, the virus did not stop them from observing the rules campaign to reduce the number of expatriates in back their nationals on coronavirus pretexts, dates, sugar and milk to those in need, will distribute of Ramadan from home. “No studies of fasting and the country amid the spread of the coronavirus. although Kuwait is paying their airfare. Local them to Quranic schools rather than on the street. risk of COVID-19 infection have been performed,” the During the past few weeks, MPs have officially sources however said India appears to be willing to Meanwhile in Indonesia, the world’s largest WHO said in its list of recommendations. “Healthy demanded that the government should utilize the resolve the standoff and is expected to accept its Muslim-majority country, some people will be meet- people should be able to fast during this Ramadan as coronavirus crisis to cut by more than half the number nationals early next month. ing loved ones remotely this year. Prabowo, who goes in previous years, while COVID-19 patients may con- of expatriates, who currently number 3.3 million or 70 In the meantime, Kuwait continues today and by one name, said he will host Eid al-Fitr, the celebra- sider religious licenses regarding breaking the fast in percent of the population. The lawmakers said expats tomorrow one of the biggest airlifts to repatriate up tion at the end of the fasting month, via the online consultation with their doctors, as they would do with should be made equal to the 1.5 million Kuwaitis by to 50,000 Kuwaitis from overseas. In the first meeting site Zoom instead of flying home. “I worry any other disease.” applying quotas based on nationality. At present, the phase, around 12,000 citizens will be repatriated. A about the coronavirus,” he said. “But all kinds of For many trapped in their homes in war-battered overwhelming majority of expats hail from India, majority of the returnees have been allowed to go togetherness will be missed. No iftar together, no countries such as Libya, Ramadan is still a time for Egypt, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Pakistan. home under house isolation, while more than a 100 praying together at the mosque, and not even gossip- prayer, introspection and charity. “For me, Ramadan Hashem said Kuwaitis are currently doing what have been sent to health ministry quarantines. ing with friends.” has come early this year. During these curfew times, it expats have been doing in government jobs and Minister of State for Municipality Affairs Waleed Several countries’ religious authorities, including means fewer working hours, similar to Ramadan,” said “things are running in the best way possible”. She Al-Jassem said yesterday he asked municipality Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, have Karima Munir, a 54-year-old banker and mother of also praised Kuwaitis who have volunteered at dif- staff to take the necessary steps to reopen auto- ruled that prayers during Ramadan and Eid be per- two in Libya. “Ramadan is always about being chari- ferent facilities during the coronavirus crisis. She repair shops at cooperative societies to allow peo- formed at home. “Our hearts are crying,” said Ali table and this year the needy are numerous, especially also recalled what she had proposed in the past to ple to fix their vehicles. Mulla, the muezzin at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. with the (displacement) from the war.” — Agencies Established 1961 17 Stars Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22) Have you been reading about how a positive If you play your cards right, Libra, you just might mental outlook creates a healthy body and a happy life, Aries? be able to turn what you're picking up psychically into an If so, you might just find that this attitude brings results. You're exalted creative effort. The emotions and images flowing into feeling strong, fit, and mentally sharp. Career interests seem to your brain might be obscure, but they're significant in some be looking up for you. A fringe benefit is that you're probably way. Whether you write, play music, dance, or paint, you could feeling especially intuitive, too. Keep doing whatever you've be blown away by your own work. Whatever your materials, been doing to bring this all about, because it's working! get them out and memorialize your inspiration.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Research that you've been doing for a particular pro- Expect to exchange a lot of phone calls and ject may finally be completed, Taurus. Now you're ready to finish emails with friends today, Scorpio. Communication with your work. Your mind is especially sharp right now, so this is a good others is your top priority. You have a lot of news to deliver time to work on any kind of project that involves communication. If and you'll receive a lot in return. Much of what you hear you're a writer, your publishing prospects look good. Romance also could be useful for whatever you're involved with now. should be going well. Perhaps you just became aware of a strong The only downside is mental overload. You could feel as if psychic bond between you and your beloved. Make the most of it! your brain has spent the day running a marathon. Find the way

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Dreams and visions about your family paint a Financial good fortune continues, Sagittarius, rosy picture of your future, Gemini. These dreams could well although old habits are hard to break and you might have diffi- be prophetic, but don't jump to that conclusion without first culty adjusting to it. You could alternate between wanting to analyzing the symbols and discerning what your dreams are buy out the store and continuing to pinch pennies the way you trying to tell you. There could be something that you need to used to. That's OK. Everybody has to make adjustments in life. consider before you can move ahead toward the future you Second only to falling in love, this will probably be one of the want to create. most pleasant adjustments you'll ever have to make!

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Tonight you might decide to attend a social gath- Are you going on a trip or possibly moving, ering held in your community that involves a lot of people who Capricorn? Is education involved in some way? Whatever your are into psychic or spiritual matters, Cancer. This should be an reasons for going away, you're going to gain whatever you interesting experience for you, because you could not only glean hope for - and more. Writing, teaching, and anything involv- a lot of fascinating information but also make some new friends. ing communication should go very well right now, including Someone could recommend a few intriguing books. Keep your conversations with a romantic partner. Your mind is quick and eyes and ears open, and take your address book with you. retentive right now, so make the most of it.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) If you've been uncertain about the possibility You tend to be intuitive by nature, Aquarius, of a raise in your salary, Leo, today you could finally be told but today you could receive psychic impressions by the for certain that it's coming. This is definitely cause for cele- dozen. You might even experience visions or hear voices. bration. You might want to call a friend or romantic partner Don't worry – you aren't going crazy! You do, however, and propose a night on the town. Your good luck shows need to pay attention to these messages. They may have signs of continuing if you keep on working as hard as you immense personal or even planetary significance. If you have been. Now it's time to enjoy it! can't make sense of them, write them down. It should all be clear to you later.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Love and romance take top priority with you today, Communication with friends and partners should Virgo. You might be feeling a little insecure about the stability of be clear, open, honest, and supportive today, Pisces. your current relationship, but you're wasting your energy. For Camaraderie flows freely, and affection is shown without now, at least, things look very promising for you and your current restraint or overkill. If you're presently involved but not yet com- lover. You should be communicating well and getting along mitted, a declaration of love and an expression of desire to great. Use your intuition to tune in to your friend's mind, and you'll move the relationship to the next level could be in the wind. At probably feel your doubts and uncertainties slip away. the very least, your lover should pay you a compliment or two!

Join the dots Crossword 18 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Photo of the day Playing without fans will be ‘weird’: Koepka LOS ANGELES: World number three Brooks Koepka is bracing for a “weird” experience of playing golf tournaments without fans as the US PGA Tour eyes a return to competition in June. “It’s going to be so weird, man,” Koepka said on the Pardon My Take sports podcast on the prospect of playing without galleries because of continuing coron- avirus concerns. “The energy that the fans bring, that’s what we all live for, we all strive for,” Koepka said. “You want to play coming down the stretch and have everyone cheering for you. Imagine this: you sink the putt on the last hole and no one’s clapping. You’re just there by yourself, and you’re like ‘Yes!’ Just you, your caddie and just silence.” Lack of a gallery could have a more concrete effect as well, Koepka said. “Every once in a while, we just hit some foul balls and the fans kind of help you find it,” he said. “I mean, guys are going to lose balls because of that.” Koepka’s comments came a day before the US PGA Tour said Thursday it is targeting a June 11 restart at Colonial Country Club in Texas, the first of four tour- naments that will be played without fans in attendance. The RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit are sched- uled to follow. In announcing the revised schedule to a season halted after the first round of the Players Championship on March 12, tour commissioner Jay Monahan said officials would follow the guidance of local and state health authorities. “The health and safety of all associated with the PGA Tour and our global community continues to be KUWAIT: Mohammed Jaffar, motocross athlete, performs in Kuwait. —Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com our number one priority, and our hope is to play a role — responsibly — in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love,” Monahan said. —AFP France’s Pinot can’t wait to be on the road again with Tour in mind Ineos world champion Rohan Dennis in lewd lockdown spat

PARIS: Frenchman Thibaut Pinot cannot wait to be pion cyclist Rohan Dennis has closed his Instagram allowed to train on the road again as part of his and Twitter accounts after appearing to break preparation for the Tour de France after the race was Spain’s lockdown law over the weekend. postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The talented 29-year-old from Adelaide is the The Frenchman, third overall in 2014 and who was world time-trial champion but has a reputation as a a top contender when he pulled out injured two days loose cannon and quit team Bahrain-Merida after before the finish last year, has had enough of work- parking his bike by the team bus and disappearing ing on his home trainer. during the last Tour de France. “The home trainer is not my thing, it’s got nothing This weekend he voiced his dissatisfaction on to do with the sensations you usually have on the Instagram with the length of the lockdown before bike,” Pinot, who has confined at home since March deleting his accounts. Screen grabs from other 17, told his Groupama-FDJ team website on Sunday. Instagram users showed posts such as: “Day 34 - “I’m still doing it to say cracked and left the house. that I train but it is not a #covid19 can suck my ass real part of my prepara- and so can #quarantine.” tions. Virtual platforms The accompanying were fun for a couple of Virtual photo appeared to have weeks but I’m over it.” been taken on a country- Pinot, however, believes platforms road from a car. Ineos is that the new Tour de active in the fight against France dates, from Aug. 29 were fun Covid-19, producing hand to Sept 20, will suit him. sanitiser and delivering it “Even if there can be to hospitals. hot days, it’s got nothing Having won stages on all to do with July, which three Grand Tours Dennis pleases me. It’s a disad- joined Ineos for the 2020 vantage that I won’t have to deal with,” explained season and would likely have been a contender for the 29-year-old, who fares better in cold than hot May’s postponed Giro d’Italia and favourite to Thibaut Pinot conditions. defend his world crown in Switzerland in September. With no elite racing allowed before Aug. 1, Pinot Dennis lives in Girona, close to the Pyrenees. does not know in which condition he will start the Dennis is widely reported to have told on-line France in 2019 with no explanation a day ahead of a defend himself on the climbs, as he did when coming Tour. “Nobody can tell if they will be at 100% on the critics he was only being honest and asking if they tim-trial he would have been favourite to win. second on the 2019 Tour de Suisse. Dennis won the Tour,” he said. would prefer him to lie. The rider famously climbed Dennis was at that time being primed as a Grand first stage of the 2015 Tour de France and briefly Meanwhile, Team Ineos’ Australian world cham- off his bike early in the 12th stage of the Tour de Tour contender who could pulverise time-trials and wore the famed yellow jersey. —Agencies

Helmut Marko told Austrian public advertising effect” of Spielberg kick- The British Grand Prix, which is Silverstone, broadcaster ORF that the Spielberg ing off the truncated season though set for July 19, is likely, however, track too could host back-to-back all those who enter Austria will have to take place behind closed doors Farah hails Spielberg could races with the second a two-day to show negative COVID-19 results to combat the spread of the coro- race during the week. to avoid quarantine. navirus. In 2019, official figures hold F1 races He said the track manager had Earlier, Silverstone managing showed that 351,000 people WWII veteran already proposed to the government director Stuart Pringle also said attended the Formula One week- LONDON: British Grand Prix organ- to allow a Grand Prix without fans discussions were already taking end at Silverstone which first fundraiser isers said Sunday they could host with chances of its approval “very place with F1 bosses over the hosted a British Grand Prix in two consecutive races if required in high”. Sports Minister Werner famous British circuit hosting two 1950. LONDON: British distance great Mo Farah has said an effort to help salvage the coron- Kogler announced this week he was world championship grands prix in “F1 has been working very his medal-winning exploits “don’t mean anything” avirus-hit world championship. So not opposed to the Spielberg race succession. hard to try and work out what the compared to the exploits of a 99-year-old British being held without a crowd. “We have discussed all sorts of solution for the world champi- World War II veteran and coronavirus fundraiser. far nine of the 22 races have either Tom Moore, a captain who served in India, has been cancelled or postponed with Marko, whose team is based in permutations including hosting two onship is,” added Pringle. “We raised more than £25 million ($31 million, 29 mil- the French and Belgian races tipped Austria, said F1 organisers were races over one weekend and two have been in regular contact with lion euros) for health workers, having initially set to join the abandoned list. working on a concept of reducing races over consecutive weekends,” them, and have been asked could out to raise just £1,000 by walking 100 laps of his That would leave the Austrian the number of those on site and how Pringle told The Guardian. “I have we hold a race or two and could garden. “It’s incredible — there are no real words Grand Prix on July 5 as the delayed charter flights could land at an air- complete confidence in our ability to they be behind closed doors. to describe Tom,” four-time Olympic gold medal- season-opener with the British port near Spielberg from the UK put on these events. We have a lot of “The answer is absolutely, we are list Farah told Sky Sports News on Sunday. “I’ve Grand Prix scheduled to follow two where most of the teams are based. experience, a lot of knowledge, we open to looking into anything and won medals for years, but that doesn’t mean any- weeks later. Red Bull consultant Marko highlighted the “unpayable can turn that on definitely.” everything.” —AFP thing really,” added Farah, the 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. “To come back to reality and realise you’re unions did not look out for each other. “We have England’s Rugby Football Union has projected making a difference for so many people who are Rugby world must an opportunity now to start with a blank page a loss of up to 50 million pounds ($62.40 million) putting their lives at risk — for someone at his because you have got everybody putting self- while Rugby Australia faces losses of about A$120 age it’s mind-blowing,” added Farah of Moore, interest to the side. They know they could be gone million ($76.14 million) if no more games are who has become something of a global phenome- work together to if they don’t do the right thing,” Hansen told Wales played this year. non thanks to social media. “We get celebrated Online https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug- World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont has said for making the country proud winning medals, but secure future by/rugby-news/steve-hansen-interview-im-still- they were in discussions with Six Nations, SAN- (other people) should be celebrated too for put- 18112112. ZAAR and the International Rugby Players union ting their lives at risk and doing the charity work.” PARIS: The rugby world must set aside self-inter- “So it’s a great opportunity to bring everybody to draw up plans for a return to rugby once gov- With all major sport worldwide suspended est and come together to help the sport make it together — north, south, individual countries — ernments and health authorities give the green due to the outbreak and what should have been through the coronavirus crisis, former All Blacks this year’s Olympics in Tokyo postponed until and do what it is right for the game. It’s been a light to resume competition. 2021, Farah has been involved in some fundrais- coach Steve Hansen has said. World Rugby said long time coming. “There has been a lot of self- The body said they were also planning for ing efforts of his own on behalf of the UK’s last week it had created a relief fund of some $100 interest and if we don’t do the right thing, we contingencies if cross-hemisphere travel is not National Health Service amid a national lock- million to assist unions as they grapple with the could lose the game and that would be a tragedy. possible, with a worst-case scenario being no down in Britain. —AFP financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have lost our way in rugby a little bit and we more international rugby being played this Hansen said the future of the game was at risk if haven’t been working well enough together.” year. —Reuters 19 Sports Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Olympics organisers must be flexible if coronavirus vaccine not ready in time Tokyo 2020 is set to run from July 23 to Aug 8 next year

TOKYO: The Tokyo Olympics next July will be a sented by visitors streaming in from areas with a lot of “uniquely risky” event, demanding flexibility from or- infections, and the reverse flow when they return after- ganisers amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pan- wards, perhaps carrying home infections. demic, particularly if a vaccine has not been rolled out Although more hopeful for a vaccine to be found by then, medical experts say. within a year, Jason Kindrachuk, an infectious diseases Japan and the International Olympic Committee expert at the University of Manitoba in Canada, flagged made the unprecedented decision last month to delay a risk of further delay to the Games, as vaccinating peo- the Games for a year, as the world battles the virus that ple would take time. “It is going to push the limits right has infected 2.3 million people and killed more than up to the border of when the Olympics should be start- 150,000 globally. But questions persist whether the ing,” said Kindrachuk, who has worked on outbreaks of Games can go ahead 15 months from now, as a vaccine Ebola and SARS. “You want to get people vaccinated could still be at least a year away, not right at the point of the according to the most optimistic Olympics, but a little bit before- estimates. “When we talk about hand, so they build up that pro- bringing sports back with tective immunity.” packed stadiums, I really think Uniquely Dr Kentaro Iwata, who drew that is something we are going to international attention for his have to wait for a vaccine to be risky criticism of the Japanese gov- able to do,” said Zach Binney, an ernment when quarantined in epidemiologist at Emory Univer- February on the Diamond sity in the United States. Princess cruise ship, along with Tokyo 2020 is set to run from thousands of passengers, ex- July 23 to Aug. 8 next year, but organisers expect few pressed pessimism over the new date. “I don’t think the changes to the original plan, including attendance by Olympics is likely to be held next year, if held at any enthusiastic supporters. But that might be over opti- time,” the virologist told the Foreign Correspondents mistic, Binney, a specialist in aspects of athlete health, Club of Japan in a teleconference. “Japan might be able TOKYO: Visitors wearing face masks walk past the Olympic Rings monument in front of the Japan Olympic told Reuters. to control this disease by next summer, and I wish we Committee headquarters near the new National Stadium. “Every person that you add to a gathering adds could, but I don’t think that would happen everywhere risk,” said Binney, who expects vaccine development on earth,” the Kobe University professor added. In re- would take 1-1/2 years from the start of the outbreak, sponse, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee said it Even if a vaccine were not ready, the organisers simply not going to look like what we have seen be- or until late 2021, at the earliest. was focusing purely on delivering the Games next year. might still be able to hold the Games, as long as they fore.” Binney said the safest option would be for ath- “So once you get up to 50,000, 70,000, 100,000 “The mission is to prepare the stage for next sum- were flexible and well prepared, Kindrachuk added. letes to arrive in Tokyo four to six weeks in advance and (fans)... that is an enormous amount of risk to be taking mer; we do not feel it is appropriate to respond to spec- “It is going to take some creative thinking, and follow rigorous isolation measures for two weeks be- on without a vaccine.” The Olympics was “a uniquely ulative questions,” spokesman Masa Takaya said in an hopefully some willingness from the public, to at least fore moving into the Olympic village to train for the re- risky event”, he added, because of the threats repre- email to Reuters on Monday. still partake in watching... understanding that it is just maining period.— Reuters

“The reality is I don’t think we will be playing football process had been “shambolic” with the deciding yes Scottish leagues look again before September, October,” Gray told the vote cast by Dundee. The Championship side initially BBC. “We need to get to the next stage and try to de- intended to vote no to the resolution when clubs were liver a situation where the clubs that were disaffected asked to cast their ballot on April 10, but their vote at reconstruction are remedied. That will include Hearts and Partick was not received by the SPFL. Roma players to Thistle. “The terms of reference will be simply to cre- Dundee then performed a U-turn and voted the LONDON: Hamilton chairman Les Gray believes ate league reconstruction through an expanded Pre- plan through five days later. “We have what’s been football might not return before October as he de- miership which will then obviously have (an) impact called a shambolic voting mess and it’s hard to dis- forgo remainder fended the decision to end the season in the Scottish on Championship, League One, League Two and po- agree with that because of what happened in the lower leagues this week. tentially the pyramid.” end,” said Gray. of season’s pay Gray will co-chair a taskforce that will aim to re- Gray was part of the Scottish Professional Football However, Gray dismissed Rangers’ claims and be- construct the leagues to ensure no side suffers rele- Leagues (SPFL) board that put forward the resolu- lieves the clubs negatively affected by ending the sea- gation due to the shutdown caused by coronavirus. tion to end the season in the lower leagues to free up son are in the minority. “The accusations of bullying ROME: Roma players and coach Paulo Fonseca The Scottish Premiership season has not yet been much-needed funds from prize money. are complete nonsense. There’s loads of negotiation have agreed to go without pay for the rest of declared over, but the controversial resolution passed Rangers have led calls for an independent investi- goes on between clubs, there’s loads of chats, but the the season to help the club’s finances during by the 42-member clubs of the leagues this week gation into the voting process by demanding SPFL board is there purely to enact the will of the clubs and the coronavirus pandemic, the Serie A outfit means the top-flight could follow suit with positions chief executive Neil Doncaster and legal adviser Rod 81 percent of clubs voted in favour of this resolution. said on Sunday. awarded on a points-per-game basis. McKenzie be suspended amid claims of bullying and “The silent majority have carried the day and other The deal means the players, Fonseca and his That would see Celtic declared champions, while coercion. people are noisier and it’s the clubs that voted no that coaching staff will give up their salaries for as it stands Hearts would be relegated to the Cham- Aberdeen and Hearts have added their voices to are the noisiest. And I’m looking at what their motives March, April, May and June, although Roma pionship and Partick Thistle down to League One. support an independent review. Gray admitted the might be.” — AFP said that should the current campaign end up being completed “an incentive plan to be paid subject to the achievement of certain sporting objectives” had been agreed. They had also agreed to “collectively pay I should have the difference” to ensure that employees who have been placed on a partial unemployment scored more scheme will receive their regular salary, the club added. “(Captain) Edin Dzeko, all the players and goals: Rooney Paulo have demonstrated they understand what this club stands for and we also thank them all for their superb gesture towards the employees LONDON: Wayne Rooney may be Manchester at this club,” said CEO Guido Fienga. United and England’s record goalscorer but he still Italy has suffered more than 23,000 coro- believes he should have found the back of the net navirus deaths, second only to the United more often during his career, even though he was not States, and all organised sport has been sus- a natural finisher. pended since March 9. The Italian Football Rooney, a teenage sensation at Everton, joined Federation (FIGC) has said that it wants the United in 2004 and went on to score 253 goals in 559 season to be finished come the end of Italy’s appearances during a 13-year spell for the Old Traf- COVID-19 lockdown, currently scheduled for ford club that saw the Red Devils pile up the trophies. May 4. Rooney surpassed 1966 World Cup-winner Bobby Earlier this month, Serie A clubs unani- Charlton as United’s all-time leading scorer, just as he mously agreed to cut the salaries of players, did for England with a tally of 53 goals from 120 caps. coaches and staff, with the exception of Juven- Despite those figures Rooney, writing in his Sunday Wayne Rooney tus, who had already hammered out a deal with Times column, insisted: “I’m going to be honest — their own players. Each club’s squad will have and this might surprise you — but I’m not a natural to agree to waive between two and four goalscorer.” The 34-year-old, now a player-coach at years, England for 15 years. I had time to break those player and it would be great for England for Harry to months’ salary. second-tier Derby County, added: “I was never a records — and looking back I should have scored get there. Bobby Charlton had to wait 50 years (for Meanwhile, Brescia president Massimo Gary Lineker or a Ruud van Nistelrooy; I never more.” Rooney backed Harry Kane to break his Eng- Rooney to break his England record) — I hope it’s Cellino called on Sunday the prospect of looked at myself that way. land record, although he would like the Tottenham not so long for me. restarting the Serie A season “madness” after “I hold the goal records for Manchester United Hotspur striker “to stay high as that No 9” after see- “The United record might last longer simply be- announcing that he had contracted the coron- and England and am very proud about that — yet ing him drop deeper in during the past two seasons. cause players don’t stay at clubs as long as they used avirus. “(Serie A head Luigi) De Siervo called there have been better No 9s than me. “How did I be- “I don’t think it will take long for Harry Kane to to. “Mind you, if (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo and asked me if I was prepared to play on neu- come a record-breaker if I wasn’t a natural scorer? claim my England record and it would be a proud mo- came to Old Trafford for a swansong they’d probably tral turf,” Cellino told sports daily Tuttosport. Time,” Rooney explained. “I played for United for 13 ment for me,” Rooney said. “I’ve never been a selfish break it in three or four years.” —AFP “I told him I am not prepared to play any- where. The season has to end here, and we cer- tainly cannot go beyond June 30. I hear talk of demic, for Cricket Australia,” Hazlewood told reporters that ... to see exactly where we’re situated at the present September or October, it’s madness.” Former Australia’s Hazlewood on a video conference yestrday. and moving forward.” CA have already delayed an an- Leeds and Cagliari chairman Cellino, 63, had “We’re obviously partners in the game and we’ve al- nouncement on national and state player contracts for revealed on Saturday that he and his daughter ways said that. We’ve ridden the highs and now it’s time men and women cricketers by a month to April 30 due had contracted the virus. says players willing to ride the lows. “We’ll see what it comes to and we’ll to the uncertainty created by the virus. “I have been in Cagliari (where he was born) obviously play our part.” Hazlewood said the players wanted CA to honour the for a few days, after having been in quarantine to take pay cuts CA has been criticised in the media following reports new deadline. “But I guess these are strange times and in Brescia for three weeks,” Cellino told daily over the weekend that its financial reserves had been hit anything can happen,” he added. La Repubblica, adding that he felt “pain in my by a slump in global stock markets due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, Justin Langer wanted to return home bones”. MELBOURNE: Australia’s cricketers are willing to take The reserves could come under further pressure if midway through Australia’s Ashes tour of England in Cellino has been a frequent critic of at- pay cuts if it will help keep the game afloat during the the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts in October, and 2001 and announce his retirement after being dropped tempts to finish the current season, which has coronavirus shutdown but the country’s board must be the lucrative test series against India in the home sum- from the side due to poor form, the current national team been suspended since March 9, insisting ear- transparent about its finances, paceman Josh Hazlewood mer are forced to be abandoned due to the virus. head coach has revealed. lier this month that he was ready for his team has said. Former test players have already forecast swingeing The left-hander, who used to bat at the number three to forfeit games rather than play again this Cricket Australia (CA) said last week it planned to cuts for cricketers’ salaries as the sport faces an ex- position, was short of runs and found himself out of the campaign. furlough almost 80% of its staff, putting them on 20% pected financial crisis. Hazlewood said relations between side before the start of the opening test against the arch- The Brescia area in Lombardy has been at pay until June 30 when it is hoped more information will CA and the national players’ union were on a far better rivals. He was recalled for the fifth and final test and be available on how long government curbs to control footing than three years ago during acrimonious nego- asked to open the batting with fellow left-hander epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, the new coronavirus will last. tiations over a new pay deal. Matthew Hayden for the first time - the start of one of where over 23,000 people have died since the Hazlewood said he was taken aback by news of the “That will go a long way to go toward this episode the most successful opening partnerships in the history start of the outbreak — second only to the financial pressures CA was under situation, given that going a lot better than last time,” he said. “Hopefully it’s of the game. United States. the Australian cricket season was all but over when the a lot better communication and I think we’ll see that in “Literally, the week before I opened for the first time Earlier this month Brescia players agreed national lockdown brought sport to a halt in March. the coming weeks, coming months. with Haydos, I told all my family I’m getting on a plane to a pay cut to help the club through the “It probably took me a little bit by surprise just due “As long as (CA) (show) a lot of transparency on all and leaving (and) I’m going home,” Langer told the suspension. — AFP to the fact that it’s happened at a perfect time, this pan- the numbers, all the players will be pretty happy with ABC’s One Plus One programme this week.—Reuters Established 1961 Sport

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

France’s Pinot can’t wait to be on ‘I should have scored Olympics organisers must be flexible if 18the road again with Tour in mind 19 more goals’: Rooney 19 coronavirus vaccine not ready in time

Chinese Super League to start by July Evergrande to build two more 80,000-seat stadiums in China

GUANGZHOU: A design image is pictured on a board during the ground-breaking ceremony of Guangzhou Evergrande’s new stadium in Guangzhou in China’s southern Guangdong province on April 16, 2020. Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande began building a new stadium costing 12 billion yuan (1.7 billion USD) and boasting a 100,000 capacity — one of the world’s largest arenas. — AFP

SHANGHAI: The coronavirus-delayed Chinese matches. The media reports did not indicate whether Meanwhile, the wealthy owners of Chinese cham- fans to pick their favourite designs for two more new Super League (CSL) season is scheduled to begin in a formal announcement was expected from the Chi- pions Guangzhou Evergrande will build two stadiums stadiums. late June or early July, a club chairman says. Sus- nese Football Association. with capacities of 80,000 each, in addition to the “Evergrande plans to build two additional 80,000- pended leagues across the world, including in Eu- China says that it has curbed club’s new 100,000-seat home. seat football fields and invites everyone to recommend rope, will be watching the CSL with interest as an coronavirus at home but is now Chinese Super League (CSL) two of the six preliminary plans,” Guangzhou Ever- indicator of the challenges they face in relaunching concerned about a second wave clubs are building or renovat- grande’s owners said on social media. The statement their own competitions. The campaign was supposed of imported infections from Relaunching ing a clutch of stadiums with did not give any further information such as where in to start on February 22 but was indefinitely post- people entering the country the country set to host the China or when the stadiums would be built. CSL poned by the pandemic, which emerged in China in from overseas. their own newly expanded 2021 FIFA champions Guangzhou Evergrande, coached by Ital- December before spreading worldwide. “Based on Marouane Fellaini, the former Club World Cup and AFC Asian ian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, began work the assessment of the current situation, the new sea- Manchester United midfielder, competitions Cup in 2023. Thursday on their eye-catching new home.† son will start at the end of June or beginning of July,” is the only known coronavirus But the rush on new arenas Costing 12 billion yuan ($1.7 billion), it will be big- said Guangzhou R&F chairman Huang Shenghua, ac- case in the CSL. He was re- will also heighten speculation ger than Barcelona’s famous Camp Nou and is sched- cording to state media. leased from hospital last week that China is gearing up for a uled for completion by the end of 2022. Evergrande Huang said that the season will be able to take and is under further observation, although he was not bid to host the World Cup, possibly in 2030. Ever- Group’s founder is the billionaire†Xu Jiayin, one of the place in full with each team playing the alloted 30 seriously ill. grande Group, a major property developer, has asked richest men in China. — AFP

their academies. straight after we are out of strict quarantine and Tennis warned of The Nadal Academy in Mallorca said it was con- there is no vaccine yet.” Last month, former world sidering becoming “a campus where elite players can number one Amelie Mauresmo said the rest of the reside, train and compete between themselves in 2020 tennis season might be wiped out, saying that ‘elevated risk matches that will be televised so that fans around the action should not resume before players can get vac- world can enjoy them.” cinated against the novel coronavirus. of corruption’ Mouratoglou released a statement unveiling a “International circuit = players of all nationalities planned “league” of 50 matches at his academy near plus management, spectators and people from the 4 Nice in the south of France and talking of “millions corners of the world who bring these events to life. PARIS: Tennis players taking part in private tourna- of US dollars in prize money”. No vaccine = no tennis,” the two-time grand slam ments while the sport is in lockdown have been Mouratoglou said he was planning 10 closed- winner said in a widely shared tweet. warned that match-fixers remain a threat. door matches to be broadcast live on each of five Medical experts have said that vaccines against ATP and WTA events have been on ice for over a weekends under the title “Ultimate Tennis Show- the respiratory virus would not be ready until next month and will not resume until July 13 at the earliest. down”. The competition will start on the weekend of year, raising doubts whether any further tennis tour- In the meantime, exhibition matches, as well as virtual May 16 with a match between world number 10 naments can be contested this year. tennis tournaments, have been suggested as a means David Goffin and 20-year-old Australian Alexei This year’s Wimbledon championships have been to sharpen competitive edges and boost bank bal- Popyrin. cancelled for the first time since World War II while ances. “The suspension of professional tennis is an Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic faces a dilemma if it the French Open, originally due to be held from May uncertain and challenging time for the tennis com- becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated 24-June 7, was rescheduled for Sept. 20 - Oct. 4, munity,” said a statement from corruption watchdog, before they can begin competing once the tennis shortly after the end of the US Open. the Tennis Integrity Unit. season resumes following the hiatus created by the Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, “Some privately organised exhibition matches, coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said on winning the Australian Open in January for his 17th tournaments and even eSports events will start to Sunday. “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 take place where and when local government restric- I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a matches before the pandemic brought sports events tions allow. vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said across the world to a halt. “We understand that these will be attractive op- in a live facebook chat with several fellow Serbian The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Euro 2020 portunities to many of you eager to play and to earn athletes. “But if it becomes compulsory, what will soccer championship were among the events post- an income.”While the playing opportunities created happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my poned until next year as the pandemic has caused are welcomed, we must advise you that there may be own thoughts about the matter and whether those 165,000 deaths worldwide. So far the governing an elevated risk of corruption and corrupt ap- thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know. bodies of tennis have suspended all tournaments proaches in some of these environments.” “Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in until July 13. In addition, the women’s Rogers Cup in Rafael Nadal and Patrick Mouratoglou, the coach July, August or September, though unlikely, I under- Montreal, which had been due to be held in August, of Serena Williams, both say that they plan events at stand that a vaccine will become a requirement will also not take place this year. — Agencies Novak Djokovic